In Cape Coral, Florida, an openly gay man currently running for public office claims both he and his partner have received two death threats from the Ku Klux Klan.
Related: The KKK Is Rebranding, Gays and Blacks Are Now Welcome
James Schneider says one of the notes (which you can see below) was found stuck to the front door of his home, with a message that demanded he drop out of the race for District 5:
“We know where you live, faggot…. We are going to win. Quit now. When you girls least expect it, we will be here for a nice visit.”
“I mean literally we were sleeping 25 feet from where they dropped this thing off,” Schneider says. “Whether it’s real or not, whoever did it, they shook us up.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
According to NBC2, Schneider has also seen several deeply insulting and homophobic posts on social media about the campaign.
“Every time I see one of these things on Facebook,” he tells NBC2, “the pile-ons from people who don’t realize that their cyber bullying and saying horrific things and they don’t even know who I am.”
So far, he’s reported the threats to the FBI and police and installed security cameras throughout his house.
Despite the drama, the last thing he wants is his homosexuality to influence voters one way or the other.
We've experienced an upsetting situation in the past days, which caused us to pull in, make serious decisions about our…
Posted by James Schneider, Candidate for District 5, Cape Coral City Council on Tuesday, August 29, 2017
“I don’t want sympathy votes,” he says. “I want votes on the fact that I’m a better-qualified candidate.”
“I almost quit which would’ve meant they won. I think I’m the appropriate candidate for the position.”
Watch a report from NBC here:
NBC-2.com WBBH News for Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples, Florida
JaredMacBride
Chances of this being fake seem pretty high.
Brody
I suspect it’s likely this guy is trying to garner sympathy votes by painting his opposition as staunch supporters of the tragedy in Charlottesville, but sadly for him, voters in SW Florida aren’t likely to fall for it.
niles
here come the pathetic wingnuts!
phallictomato
I doubt it. With the KKK being encouraged to hurt gay people lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were true (http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/08/13/the-kkk-issues-plea-for-members-to-kill-gay-people/). That, and the fact that America has a white supremacist for a president. You only have to put 1 and 1 together.
Kangol
Right-wing, white supremacist anti-gay attacks: who’s surprised? Hoods on or off, they’re no fans of gay people, even white gays.
To Queerty: what about the extremely hateful, anti-gay statement issued by 150 white evangelical “Christian” organizations the other day?
Is there some reason you’re not covering that yet? It could have serious consequences for LGBTQ people, since lots of Republican politicians listen to these religious nutcases.
Heywood Jablowme
I’m not sure… Klansmen using the Segoe Script font? That’s a pretty fruity font. Seems suspicious!
But I would vote for Mr. Silly Goose Twinkle Toes.