A Republican official has taken to Twitter to bully someone — where could he have picked up such a smarmy tactic? The world may never know.
But since Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert (left, next to Mike Hot-Pence) doesn’t quite have the same dubious clout as his more famous troll-model, he may be regretting his choice to publicly attack one of his former constituents on Twitter.
Rapert’s skirmish started last week after he filed a bill in the Arkansas State Senate to amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. We could argue that anyone still fighting that hard against marriage equality in America is likely coping with some intense unexplored same-sex attractions, but that’s for another post.
Suffice it to say that not everyone Rapert claims to represent shares his eagerness to turn back the clock on LGBTQ rights, including Michael Hildebrand.
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Hilderbrand, who grew up in Arkansas and whose family still lives in and around Little Rock, sent Rapert a message on Facebook, hoping to reach the senator with some reason. Here’s how their exchange played out:
“You don’t need marriage for a gay lifestyle,” Rapert told Hilderbrand. Funny — we didn’t realize marriage was a necessity for a heterosexual lifestyle, either.
“The LGBT activists never had to mess with marriage – that was their mistake,” he concluded. Right, kind of like how civil rights activists just had to go meddling with interracial marriage laws.
Hilderbrand never received a response to his followup message, so he posted the exchange online, hoping to spark discussion.
As local political blog the Blue Hog Report notes, Rapert apparently wasn’t keen on his own words being used to paint a picture of his close-minded ideology, so he blocked Hilderbrand on Twitter.
Then after blocking him, Rapert posted screenshots from Hilderbrand’s Facebook profile to another activist’s account (@AltHomesteadMon) in an attempt to… discredit him? shame him? We really can’t figure it out ourselves.
@AltHomesteadMon he seems like such a nice person. #Not
You can’t post vulgarity and then whine when you get told the truth. So ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/RgXUFzJKTa— Sen. Jason Rapert (@jasonrapert) February 6, 2017
#Not? Good one, Senator. Also, you can’t really pull the “vulgarity” card when you are actively working to strip your fellow citizens of their rights.
Rapert followed up the Tweet with some more of his trademark wisdom, citing a page literally out of the Family Research Council (deemed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center) playbook:
The Bible’s Teaching on #Marriage and #Family: https://t.co/svYxZ4YnmH @FRCdc #Now
— Sen. Jason Rapert (@jasonrapert) February 6, 2017
BHG decided the only fair thing to do was post Rapert’s phone number and other publicly available, easily Google-able information, so people could let him know what they thought of his narrow views.
Others encouraged the same actions, and that’s when this started to happened:
Have a complaint about #Arkansas sneauflayke .@jasonrapert ? Drop an email here: [email protected] #LGBT #resist #DropJason
— AltHomesteadMnmt (@AltHomesteadMon) February 6, 2017
Apparently @Jasonrapert has a full voicemail box. DO NOT LET THAT STOP YOU. #RAPERT #RESIST
— AltHomesteadMnmt (@AltHomesteadMon) February 7, 2017
.@jasonrapert is a coward who can’t debate, just blocks those who dissent. Homophobic racist bigot who solicits donations to his church.
— AltHomesteadMnmt (@AltHomesteadMon) February 6, 2017
Hey .@jasonrapert, want all of this to stop? PUBLICLY apologize to the person you doxxed, and answer their original questions. Or… pic.twitter.com/IE5ZjKaZaw
— AltHomesteadMnmt (@AltHomesteadMon) February 6, 2017
Rapert’s bullying tactics might have worked in the past, but if he hasn’t noticed by now, people are pissed off and ready to resist. Perhaps he’ll reconsider targeting the rights of his fellow Americans after the onslaught of complaints he’s still receiving.
This sums it up pretty well:
IF YOU DO NOT MAKE ROOM FOR EVERYBODY AT YOUR TABLE, DO NOT BE SUPRISED WHEN THEY COME FOR YOUR CHAIR. #RESIST #altgovt
— AltHomesteadMnmt (@AltHomesteadMon) January 27, 2017
DCguy
So this is excellent evidence that Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert is a closeted homosexual.
ONLY closet cases think about what lgbts do in their bedrooms as much as this guy does. He is no different than George Reckers. Remember him? The founder of the anti-lgbt hate group the “Family Research Council”? Caught with a male prostitute?
Yep, countdown to Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert beign caught in a gay scandal with a male prostitute? 5…..4……3…
tinkle_beauregard
Republicans are conditioned to believe everything they hear as long as it’s coming from a conservative mouth. I guarantee he’s being quoted all over amerikkka – “97% of Americans believe marriage should be between 1 man and 1 woman. “. More alternative news. How long before the Deplorables figure this out?
batesmotel
Tinkle whomever you are – There are KKK anti-gay members in the Democratic party too! Don’t be so naive to stereotype the way this senator did. You’re no different than he is. Under the false delusion that the Democratic party is exceptionally perfect. And I’m not defending Republicans either as I’m neither. There are problematic people in BOTH parties.
whatevz
poor picked on bigot Jason needs self-loathing @Mo Bro to come to his defense, quick!
michaeljhildebrand
Hi! I am the Michael Hildebrand you are referring to in the story above. Thank you so much for posting about all of this. One correction, I am not a constitute of the Senator. As my discussion with him mentions, I grew up in AR and most my family still lives in Stuttgart, Little Rock and Benton, AR. Because of this, and just wanting to make sure other LGBT people are safe and secure back in my home state, is why I contacted him. Thanks again!
Neville
Good to see that you challenged this human turd who thinks himself to be a great politician. But you people down south (what we Canadians call Americans) need to vote this asshat and his fellow GOP’ers out in the next mid-term election (and remember to vote Democrat only; the Greens and others third parties don’t have the muscle to challenge the GOP.)
davidkohl
May I congratulate you Sir for your bravery in challenging that odious man.
cabe
Good for you for firing back at this a-hole. I think we should all email/tweet and flood his voice mail w/ similar messages as yours. Not only does he sounds like an a-hole but he seems really stupid and obviously obsessed w/ gay people.
gayjim1969
Like all bullies, he chose to pick on someone he thought was powerless, someone he could attack and remain in the shadows. But, when you fought back and dragged him into the light, he tried to scurry away: then bared his teeth when cornered.
Good for you for standing up to him and exposing him for exactly what he is.
The911Guy
You are awesome.
michaeljhildebrand
(oops, I misspelled “constituent”) Sorry about that. LOL!
Dan Tracer
Thanks for the clarification, Michael. I’ve noted it above.
pedrofcuk
These bigots need to learn the history of marriage before spouting bullshit about it.
http://www.livescience.com/37777-history-of-marriage.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage
http://theweek.com/articles/475141/how-marriage-changed-over-centuries
Neville
These bigots need to be encouraged to emigrate to a distant planet; unfortunately, we don’t have any warp-capable spacecraft to take most of these people to said distant planet.
davidkohl
I don’t understand why you Americans put up with a system whereby the loser of the popular vote still becomes President. Trump is a narcissistic monster, liar and racist. He subverts truth and glorifies lying. This is why people like Rapert are emboldened in their attacks on all sorts of minority groups. Bullies need to be confronted publicly. The USA is already behind Europe in equality of all kinds. You need to get your act together and replace those bigots with decent people. Get out the vote and unseat Rapert!
Neville
My sentiments exactly (mostly the part about the voting).
He BGB
America will probably always be behind Europe in sexual matters since America idolized the Puritans and everyone wants to claim to be an ancestor from someone on the Mayflower as a sign of superiority. Our schools have taught that story from the beginning. Women are treated as inferior and tgat reflects on the way they see gay men as weak and inferior, it all comes down to ignorance and fear. People need to EDUCATED.
davidkohl
I agree about the Mayflower obsession amongst certain types of Americans but its not just in sexual matters that the USA is far behind even very poor countries. Where apart from the USA can police officers systematically shoot dead people of colour and systematically be found not guilty? No other ‘Western’ nation would allow that to go on. This is the attitude that allows people like Rapert to flourish and spread his pernicious lies and half-truths.
cabe
I agree w/ part of what you say but a lot of Europe is still behind the US in terms of women and equal rights. My sister lived/worked in Paris for ten years and was asked in two different job interviews (by men) if she was planning on getting pregnant anytime soon. That would never fly in the US. In fact it’s illegal to ask something like that here.
GayEGO
Jason Rapert talks and acts like a homophobic individual whose brain is defective which is obvious by his responses. The majority of Americans support marriage equality so this numbskull is way off base. I really must dish him as I am a gay man from the 1950s and have been with my lifetime partner 55 years, married almost 13 years. I served my country, we worked and paid our bills and taxes and are both retired and living the American dream. Our straight tax guy told us to file our taxes jointly as a married couple in 2014 after SCOTUS overturned section 3 of DOMA, saving us $3000. So my comment to Rapert is – Really Mary, you are such a dishy queen!
davidkohl
You are a shining example to all of us my friend and congratulations on your clearly wonderful relationship.
althomesteadmon
Hi. AltHomesteadMon here. I am not Michael.
I am a total stranger who came upon a reddit post that included the facebook conversation, and Michael was also there in reddit providing proof/facts about the situation, I then blasted the Senator with the screenshot and numerous questions.
Michael came into the conversation shortly after it started, requesting answers from the Senator.
The Senator blocked me after I told him I was a woman, and not Michael (He thought we were the same, as well). I think the senator blocked Michael around the same time I was blocked as well.
(Just correcting some stuff—many twitter people think we are the same person! We are not!) 🙂
Thanks for bringing awareness to the entire situation though, it is not going unnoticed!
Dan Tracer
Thanks for this. And for laying the pressure on thick!
ivanw222
“Your group (we are a group?) destroyed the definition of marriage (gays have the same definition of marriage as straights, loving) for everyone (except gays) by 1 vote in the Supreme C (also known as the law of the land). Now the 97% of Americans (where does that figure come from) are standing up for marriage as between one man and one woman (except in Utah). You gays do what you want (we want, and have won freedon to marry) – you don’t need marriage to live agay lifestyle (well technically you don’t need marriage to live a straight lifestyle either, except when one partner dies and the other is left with no say in the couple’s finances, mutual property, retirement benefits, you know, all those things that are covered by marriage).
teresa_landreth
Very well put hun.
their call for the sacredness of marriage DIED a long time ago. in most western countries, you basically have to get PERMISSION from the government (mostly in the interests of preventing incest, and forced marriages) and while you CAN get married in a church it is NOT required, but to get married YOU DO HAVE To have that paper from the government, at least to be LEGALLY married, or its JUST a set of vows. also the allowing of divorce, etc have shown that marriage, as stipulated in the bible is NOT what most people want, especially NOT 97%. since what 40-45% of them end in divorce, church related or not.
so saying its NOT a civil issue is complete fabrication, and has been for a LONG time, you might “enhance” your marriage by being conducted in a church, with a “holy” man, but NOT EVER required (other than your faith might not recognize it)
paul dorian lord fredine
this ‘one man-one woman’ argument being 1000s of years old is getting stale and all you have to do is check the bible (something these so-call christians love to tell other people to do) for examples of men having multiple wives. historically marriage had very little to do with being a religious rite but more often than not about securing power for political advantage or simply to ensure a dynastic line. i can only wonder what he thinks about civil (non-religious) ceremonies where they’re ‘wed’ in a courtroom by someone other that a clergy’person’. are these then somehow not valid because
(i’m sure) in his mind they’re not ‘blessed’ by some divine being?
radiooutmike
Destroyed the definition of marriage? Straights have been doing that for thousands of years.
The Supreme Court decision did not say that churches must marry same-sex couples, only that the laws banning same-sex marriages were unconstitutional. Your church is safe. Your marriage is safe. For Christs sake.
sdsinmpls
To those of you from outside the USA–
Please DO NOT believe that every American is on board with Trump, his cronies, their beliefs or the horrific plans they have for our country. The larger majority did NOT vote for them. Unfortunately because of the way our political system works–the electoral college–Trump weaselednis way in. Believe me when I say that most of us are appalled with everything that is happening and are working hard to undo the damage HE is doing. Thanks.
davidkohl
I know that most Americans are appalled by Trump et al. Just like most of us in Europe are astonished that a man who gets fewer votes than his opponent can still be declared President. That was not the will of the people. I am heartened to see and hear the opposition in the USA. One thing to watch – those who would seek a dictatorship first attack the media, then the judiciary then the constitution, then YOU.
Arconcyyon
You is Gay is Hey Assexuadyd you You Cauntry ! You is Beautiflyind I LOVE YOU LOVE VERY VERY LOVE YOU I LOVE ! The países city enderecss world age the day and day repulbican ! letter is rede soceity is the phony telefonic my net google .
1EqualityUSA
This is the nicest comment I’ve read all night. Thanks you.
Daniel-Reader
If you only have to outnumber people to violate their human rights and those of their families, how does that work out for everyone? Not very well I would gather. Beware politicians sacrificing other people’s human rights. History will not be repeated.
davidkohl
Unfortunately, history is all too ready to be repeated. The most obvious example to look at is Nazi Germany. Why did the Holocaust happen? Because people were only too glad to let another group be the scapegoats. The same thing is happening right now in the USA – in terms of dismantling human and civil rights that is. You have an extremist deranged leader and his equally deranged cohorts holding the power. The Courts and the People must not allow them to destroy democracy, human rights and equality.