Fetzer to sue over gay allegation

Former Raleigh mayor Tom Fetzer says he will sue a Wilmington radio host for libel for forwarding an e-mail that alleges he is gay.

A longtime Republican political consultant, Fetzer is running for head of the state party.

In an e-mail to supporters today, he said that he intends to "vigorously pursue legal action" against radio host Curtis Wright, his employer, WLTT, and corporate owner Sea-Comm Media.

"The fact that I'm 54 and single does not mean that I have to put up with vicious rumors that I'm gay," he wrote in the e-mail. "The fact that I am heterosexual is a matter of public record."

Fetzer told Dome he will file the lawsuit on Tuesday.

North Carolina's case law may present a challenge to a potential lawsuit.

In 1994, the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled that falsely claiming that someone was gay or bisexual was not libelous by itself.

After the jump, Fetzer's letter.

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Dear Republican Friend:

I apologize in advance for the content of this message, but as you can see, I had no other choice.

Tuesday, Curtis Wright, a radio and television talk show host in Wilmington, forwarded an anonymous letter alleging that I am gay to Republican leaders throughout North Carolina. The letter is a lie, written by a lying coward. I can't sue the lying coward, but I have authorized my attorneys to sue Curtis Wright and the media outlets he works for.

You can click here to view a copy of the letter my attorney sent to Mr. Wright, WLTT, and Sea-Comm Media.

There are two things you need to know:

1)   I am not gay - never have been - never will be. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support any of the scurrilous allegations made in the anonymous attack on me.

2)   I will spare no cost or hardship in defending my good name. I intend to vigorously pursue legal action against any and all who spread these lies. The fact that I'm 54 and single does not mean I have to put up with vicious rumors that I'm gay. The fact that I am heterosexual is a matter of public record. The News & Observer once even reported (erroneously) that I had eloped.

I will marry one day, and soon I hope, when I find a woman I can't live without who feels the same way about me. Not before. And not for any other reason.  My parents divorced and perhaps that has made me more cautious than most. But I will get married for the right reason. Of the many wrong reasons to get married, to do so in order to fill-out one's political resume tops the list.

I have been involved in politics for over 30 years -- as an activist, a candidate and an elected official - and this is the most outrageous smear I have ever seen.

And I will not tolerate it. Neither should you. Neither should our Party.

As I have traveled around the state, I have made it clear that I will be a Chairman who will FIGHT for our Party and our principles. I'm also going to FIGHT to defend my good name.

The best way to fight a lie is with the truth and that's what I intend to do. I hope you will stand with me in making it clear to those who would disseminate this kind of garbage that there is no room in our Party for them or their lies.

Now, I'm going back to work and continue to focus on leading our Party to victory in the next two years. I ask you to join me in that effort.

Sincerely,

Tom