State Rep. Larry Brown sent his fellow House Republicans an e-mail last week where he referred to gays as "queers" and "fruitloops."
Brown was responding to an e-mail House Minority Leader Paul Stam of Apex sent to members of his caucus about House Speaker Joe Hackney getting an award from the Equality NC Foundation, a gay-rights group.
Brown sent his reply to nearly 60 e-mail addresses.
"I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him," said the message dated Sept. 27. "I am sure there will be a couple legislative fruitloops there in the audience."
Ian Palmquist, executive director of Equality North Carolina, said Brown should apologize for using anti-gay slurs.
"I think it's disgusting to see a member of the legislature talking about his own constituents and fellow North Carolinians that way," Palmquist said. "I would hope that he would apologize and his colleagues would speak out about that kind of bigotry."
Brown did not return telephone calls today.
Stam said the e-mail was intended to be private and the only people Brown should apologize to are those who got the e-mail and were offended.
"It was not sent to a public group," Stam said. "There's a lot of language that is used by public officials in public and private that should not be used. I don't use that language myself."
Stam wouldn't say whether he talked to Brown about the e-mail, or if any other caucus members objected, saying he considered such conversations "internal communications."
"If any of them want to tell you what they told Larry, that's fine," he said.
Stam said he sent a copy of the announcement about Hackney's award to Republican members because he's getting it for supporting two bills they opposed - one expanding sex education to include more information about contraceptives, and the another an anti-bullying measure that identifies gay students as potential bully targets.
Brown, the former mayor of Kernersville, is in his third term. He is running for re-election unopposed.
Comments
State statute 14-177 invalidated by US Supreme Court in 2003
October 6, 2010 - 2:05pm — heiderose1The ruling of the US Supreme Court in June of 2003 in the anti-sodomy case from Texas invalidated all other statutes from 13 states that had similar language, including the one from NC. Anti-sodomy laws were ruled a violation of privacy and an unconstitutional overreach of government.
State statute 14-177
October 6, 2010 - 8:02am — Pirate1968Sodomy is illegal in many states , including N.C . State statute 14-177 is not enforced .We selectively chose which laws that we want to enforce.
Powder Keg
October 6, 2010 - 1:39am — JakeGoadI raise issue with the NC GOP's recent actions. In general they do their best to making gay being harder than otherwise, every year trying to amend the state's constitutional to ban marriage equality, unanimously opposing comprehensive sex ed, and the like. With all the suicides in the news you'd think they'd be at least a little sensitive, or at least less hateful. But now they have devolved into slurs like "queers" and "fruitloops." To make matters worse they oppose the anti-bully measures/training bill that passed last year, that could fight against the kinds of suicides that have been happening. They are doing their best to create bad conditions, and then block the one thing might stop them. Senator Burr's opposition to DADT repeal is only a small part of a culture of hate.
Slamming Gays instead of Bashing is a new Republican Sport
October 5, 2010 - 11:34pm — ConMaxMeanwhile! Breaking News from the NBA [National Basketball Leaque] Coach Larry Brown said today, he would not resign because he called a Miami Heat Player a Fruitloop who couldn't slam dunk his way out of a Republican Bathhouse.........
Well at least he is not
October 5, 2010 - 11:02pm — coffmanWell at least he is not using code words that only the stupidest of his constituancy can't understand. Now even the stupid people that vote for him will know where he stands without a doubt. I am sure it goes without question that he dislikes folks that don't belong to his chuch and are not at least 15/16ths caucaisan Go Brown! You go girl.
Indiscrete, but who's repressing
October 5, 2010 - 10:20pm — FlowerpowerIt's indiscrete to say such things in e-mails, if only because they can appear on the front page of the NY Times. But as for political correctness, it, like so much other oppression in other dictaorships, simply goes underground. That we don't say negative things about various segments of society certainly does not mean the attendant feelings have gone away as well.
Oppression just means eruption elsewhere, or a more potent repercussion when the power swings another way. Appearances, the ways things look or seem on the surface, don't matter as much as the way things work.
Comments by riveroflife7, et. al.
October 5, 2010 - 9:13pm — got2replyRiveroflife7, thank you for your comments -- well done. As for those who dislike what Rep. Brown wrote in his e-mail: What is the point of commenting if you are going to engage in the same type of behavior? His use of queers & fruit loops is despicable, but it doesn't help when writers in the N&O do the same thing. This type of bullying/harassing behavior is exactly why we needed the anti-bullying bill. For those who think the e-mail was private: Where have you been? Those of us who are public servants, receive a message every morning when we boot up our computers that states we have no expectation of privacy while using a state-owned computer in our state positions. Secondly, any e-mails sent from our personal computers/accounts are subject to the open records law if they pertain to our work. If a representative of the House cannot act honorably then he needs to resign. As for this fruit loop, I will not stoop as low as Rep. Brown or other writers by calling him - and those who believe as he does - names. I will turn the other cheek as I have been taught by the good book and will also pray for him.
You're right that type of
October 5, 2010 - 9:11pm — liberalightfootYou're right that type of behavior is off balance to straights. No one should grandstand someone's email. It's a theft. The use was slang terms in private, not public. How can you describe something and communicate?
He's perfectly entiteled to his opinion
October 5, 2010 - 8:44pm — SGK1212Homosexuality is deviant behavior. It's clearly out of the mainstream.
Offensive terms
October 5, 2010 - 8:19pm — liberalightfootI use descriptions like that and most people have also. It was private email and whoever ratted should not have. They just wish to drive a knife in an old man's back. I use other slang for others, but not in public nor earshot. Some are just soooooo sensitive they can't stand anything but themselves. Got it, it's slang and a backstab to narc off private email.
Anti-gay comments by NC Republican
October 5, 2010 - 7:36pm — geriwagOur citizens deserve better!
A factual statement
October 5, 2010 - 6:46pm — Pirate1968Queers suck !
Incredibly Stoopid .....
October 5, 2010 - 6:10pm — AgentPierceTimes are what they are ..... if this galoot did not realize how this would EXPLODE then he is waay too unaware to be representing anyone else. Personal opinions on such volatile issues simply have to be discreet. Yes, he has "the right" to free speech and Yes, he is accountable for the reaction his speech creates. Stick a fork in him - he's done.
No, he was not representing anyone but himself and no one but himself is liable for the consequences.
Comments by Reagan4pres, and others.
October 5, 2010 - 6:03pm — riveroflife7@ya..."I mean being Gay is not exactly normal behavior according to psychology text books."
I am not sure which psychology text book you are referring to, as this type of characterization and rhetoric is no longer FOUND in them. "Normal", as a matter of fact, can't really be defined.
But as to what any leader says, public or private, once you put yourself in the position of serving your community...you'd better understand that part of your community is going to include someone you might not think of as being "normal" (read here: like YOU!). This being said, it should be understood that age and belief system aside, no one should use language that is derogatory when they purport to be a public servant. Period. It doesn't matter your political affiliation. In other words, simply because you win a majority of the votes in your district that bestows upon you the HONOR of serving that constintuency, does not mean that they ALL are exactly like you. Have respect for those who did not vote for you, because like it or not, you STILL represent them, as well. Serve w/ honor, dignity and pride...and give your constituents that respect as well. You are a public servant...you ran, and asked for, the position. In doing so, you agreed to be held to a higher standard. PERIOD!
Give me a break
October 5, 2010 - 5:56pm — pleasehelpmeYou people who are so critical of Mr. Brown need to remove the log from your own eye before you try to get the speck out of your brothers!! Homosexuality is wrong, it is not supposed to be a way of life that we condone. These people need help just as much as the drug addicts and alcoholics. It is not right to belittle anyone but ALL of us make jokes from time to time about things that we are not in agreeance with, these men and women that represent us in government are not any different than the rest of us in this respect. Leave Mr. Brown alone on the trivial stuff and look at his record as a legislator, his personal jokes to his friends and family are none of our business.
And?
October 5, 2010 - 5:45pm — Reagan4PresSo, what is wrong with what he said?
I have been called a right wingnut on here. Am I supposed to be insulted? If it is the truth, can it be an insult?
I mean being Gay is not exactly normal behavior according to psychology text books. So, if one uses lables in private emails that someone doesn't like, does that constitute an insult? It is not as if no one has ever heard those discriptors used before. Try to remember the guy is old and old fashioned. Does it make it right? I wouldn't do it. At least not to sixty folks, knowing that at least one would get upset.
There are more things to get upset about in life. This is not in the top one hundred. Take a pill and mellow out.
Paging The Pope [ Art] about this tea party gang bang rumor
October 5, 2010 - 5:44pm — ConMaxMeanwhile, State Rep Brown got invite from a Gay State Prison rights inmate group [ Gay Brothers For Freedom] who said they wanted to have a private meeting with him in Cell 666 [ Senator Larry Craig Dentention Center] to discuss the pro's and con's why Closet Republican Gays have private cells to themselves.........State Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer said the story was completely being blown out proportion about Minority leader Republican Stram being a secret lover of Brown on the weekends at the State Capital....
I see no reason to apologize
October 5, 2010 - 4:29pm — penniless_taxpayerEverything Larry said is factually correct. I see no reason to apologize If you start apologizing to homosexuals when referring to them by a euphemism that Equality NC Foundation doesn't like, well then pretty soon NAMBLA will want an apology too when you refer to pedophiles as "buggers", "molesters", etc.
Another Great Leader
October 5, 2010 - 4:27pm — edmcm15Now we have another leader showing true colors. Why not just introduce legislation to have all persons different than he believes they should be deported from our State immediately. At least that would be an open and honest position. It is sad that our State's leadership, both parties, cannot represent all of us, with a tone on dignity and respect for those that have opposing views, as well as life styles. Since I mentioned both parties, I might also add with honesty and obedience of the laws. I wonder where our kids learn such things, as bullying others that are different, talking down to others, disrespecting others, and its ok to bend the rules to get what you want attitudes? Could it be from our great polarizers, the pols? Oh, no, they would be the first to point out all our youth's problems come from tv, movies, cellphones, and the interenet, but never from a Representative.
I did not receive the mailing from Rep Brown, but I am offended and ashamed that a leader in our State would ever be disrespectful to any segment of our citizens. The letter and its terminology is shameful and beneath any one in a position of leadership. Since the letter is now public, he should immediately apologize for his lack of tolerance and disrespect toward others. It is his duty to set an example and help solve our State's many problems, not try to create problems.
Get with it Representative Unopposed Brown, and start being a good example, and a leader of all citizens, not just those that hate.
Par for the course
October 5, 2010 - 3:26pm — cato08What do people expect? Remember the R state senator from Greenville several years back who said if a woman was raped she couldn't pregnant unless she wanted to. This yoyo was a medical professional! Or the R Wake County commisssioner who said everyone knew that if the intellectually disabled ate sweet potatoes, they would be cured!
Brown
October 5, 2010 - 3:16pm — CapeFear54Larry Brown is an expert when it comes to fruit loops. That's all he has between his ears!
How about reporting some relevant news.
October 5, 2010 - 3:06pm — joeb9113Queer - a differing in some odd way of what is usual or normal.
Fruitloops - a well know children's cereal
This guys sends an email out to a specific distribution. I believe most people on distribution recognized the source and took it with a grain of salt. To me, it was an obvious attempt at a ill conceived joke to his colleagues. Big deal, what's the news? People in glass houses (media) shouldn't be throwing stones. I don't condone this, but nobody would have even heard of this if it weren't for some media outlet putting it out there for everyone to see. If this is the worst thing this legislator is guilty of, his constituents are a lucky group.
Par for the course
October 5, 2010 - 2:59pm — TeddyJackI used to eat lunch in the Legislative building. What do expect from a bunch of slackjawed rednecks? Go to your local Cracker Barrel if you want to find a more intelligent crowd to dine with.
just use the code, repubs..
October 5, 2010 - 2:58pm — occasionalGood gracious, no need to use verbal slurs. Just tap on the bathroom floor three times. The repubs will get the message...wink, wink!
Can it be any more
October 5, 2010 - 2:45pm — blackdogCan it be any more obvious, that he and his buddies don't represent ALL citizens...?
My letter to Reps Brown and Stam
October 5, 2010 - 2:36pm — rgarraputaDear Representative Brown,
I was disgusted by the bigoted language you chose to use in an email to your colleagues, as reported in the News and Observer:
The sad thing is that you were only caught deriding one group—who knows what you would say in response to issues concerning blacks, women, Hispanics, Jews, or other minorities. The obvious disdain you express makes it quite clear that you have no intention of truly representing the interests of all of your constituents, making you suspect as a representative for any of them.
Even worse, you felt comfortable using such heinous language broadly among your colleagues, the House Republican Caucus. The only conclusion we can draw from this is that you must find general acceptance for this type of denigration of the NC voters among your leadership and colleagues. We now have a clear picture of the casual bigotry and hatred infesting our elected bodies. Your shame is their shame to share, and the shame of NC voters unless we move to replace you and them with leaders that will honestly represent us all.
so
October 5, 2010 - 2:36pm — keithowhats the problem...........I'll tell you what it is......... liberals try to label everyone a victim that needs govt help/ protection .......PC terms are stupid and anyone who has issue with being called a name should have the self worth to get the hell over it..........the man has a right to free speech and an opinion just like you liberals do.
Well, the good news is at
October 5, 2010 - 2:30pm — oldrwizrWell, the good news is at least this won't hurt him among his core constituents. Intelligent, compassionate people didn't vote for that buffoon in the first place.
Not the best week to be a gay-basher...
October 5, 2010 - 2:25pm — lizzie27713It's never a good time to be a bigot, but you'd think with all the LGBT/bullying teen suicides lately Rep. Brown would know it's not exactly the best week to pull out the anti-gay slurs.
Anti-gay bullying is learned behavior. Kids don't magically learn to be bullies and bigots. Facebook/texting doesn't turn them into that... They learn it from grown-ups like Rep. Brown and his defenders who have no taste, no class and no tact.
Republicans are filled with hubris
October 5, 2010 - 2:23pm — AquaManI dont think they are gonna do as well as they think they are in the elections.
I'm offended
October 5, 2010 - 5:01pm — dak8859"JoeBloggs" and "newton" wrote comments using the word "geriatric" in a manner that demonstrated a nasty prejudice, contempt, disdain for senior citizens. They should be ashamed of themselves. Stop the anti-Seniors bashing now!
journalism?
October 5, 2010 - 2:12pm — mkrichieI wonder if anyone besides gays had their feeling hurt this week? Probably. Not condoning the comments but I wish the N&O would do some real reporting on comparing candidate stances.
This type of article may get some people's hate emotions going but the public would be much better served if the paper informed, hopefully justly. I suspect this type, I don't even know what to call it, red herring news, might be all we read.
How about a piece comparing Brad Miller's stance on issues with Bill Randall's. I wonder if Brad Miller has given explicit instructions to keep him out of the news until the N&O breaks the story October 20th that Randall has an illegal alien housekeeper from Costa Rica!
"Minority" Leader...maybe for a reason?
October 5, 2010 - 1:57pm — think_4unowI wonder how many of Brown and Stam's fellow legislators are gay. Certainly they have many constituents that are. Sometimes (many examples of this) the most vocal anti-gay voices just aren't quite out of the closet themselves yet!
I hope Stam and his fellow "esteemed legislators" remain the minority for a very long time.
Yes, another geriatric
October 5, 2010 - 1:36pm — JoeBloggsYes, another geriatric Republican who hasn't bothered turning over a calandar page since 1954. His relevance is waning fast, but I'm glad he's running unopposed. He'll have many more chances to make a complete fool out of himself in the next session.
Thanks Larry, we always need a good laugh in this state!
We've known
October 5, 2010 - 1:36pm — weeksgroovewe've always known that the GoP are bigots, they fight every piece of equality legislation tooth and nail. This is not shocking and we should no longer give them a "second chance" to respect other people. It's jsut amazing that they think its ok even in "private" emails.
Again
October 5, 2010 - 1:25pm — newtonAnother of the geriatric Republican set fails to understand that emails are not private. Doofus.
What else?
October 5, 2010 - 1:24pm — RonBWhat else are Brown, Stam, and the rest of the GOP saying about their constiutents in private? The GOP continues to talk out of both sides of its mouth. Chair Tom Fetzer continues to press for more open records, while Senator Paul Stam claims legislators' emails are private.
Do Republicans oppose the anti-hate crime legislation because it protects, as Brown says, 'fruitloops'?
Maybe Paul Stam uses different language, but the fact remains he is ok with bullying against a select group of people. In 2010, that is not leadership, that is bull(something else).
I think queer is the PC word
October 5, 2010 - 1:08pm — crooked617I think queer is the PC word now. Not so sure about fruitloops