27-year-old Alex Morse has accomplished a lot in his young life. After graduating from Brown University with a degree in Urban Studies and Planning, he was elected mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts (pop. 40.135) in 2011 when we was just 22, becoming the town’s youngest and first openly gay mayor. He was reelected in 2013, and again in 2015.
Over his tenure, he has received plenty of angry letters, tweets, and emails criticizing him and his policies. But earlier this week, he received a different kind of note:
“Alex, you are one of the most selfish people I know due to your ‘gay’ lifestyle,” it read. “You are going down.”
The note was not signed and had no return address.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Morse chose to share it on Facebook.
“It’s a more threatening message than usual,” he tells the Boston Globe, “and given the context of the culture that seems to have been elevated since the Trump election, I thought it was important to shine a light on this language and behavior.”
He continues: “It’s different than writing a note that says, ‘I don’t support gay marriage,’ or ‘I don’t support rights for someone.’ But to demean someone’s humanity based on their sexuality takes it to another level.”
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Morse added that the current political climate in America is “disappointing” but emphasized that it is “more important than ever before to speak out and come together.” He also said that he plans to file a criminal report about the note.
See the note and read Morse’s Facebook post about it below…
Mandrake
I find it fascinating as well as disturbing how Trump’s election has opened some Pandora’s box of homophobic hatred. He actually has not been homophobic like his acolytes, such as his VP. Do the homophobes think his election has given them some sort of perverted permission to finally lash out?
Low Country Boy
@Mandrake: Unfortunately, it is not just the LGBT community. Everyone appears to be in the crosshairs of the alt-right/White Nationalist movements, except white male Christians.
AntBee
@Mandrake: Yes, and lots of other “phobes,” as Low Country Boy has mentioned.
The people he is putting in his cabinet and other positions of power, should scare us more than the ones who put him in office. He’s reaching out to these assh*les, as he has no clue as to what to do once he gets in there.
Now, Ted Cruz wants to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Horrific! A lifetime of looking at that face, and the narrow-minded crap that would come from him, are mind-boggling, to say the least, if he were appointed.
Mandrake
@AntBee: I agree, but fortunately, Trump’s nominations all have to be approved by the Senate with a 2/3 vote. The new senate, although controlled by the Republicans, is 48 Dems to 52 Repubs, enough to block any right wingers.
Billysees
@Mandrake:
” Do the homophobes think his election has given them some sort of perverted permission to finally lash out? ”
Good question. It appears at this point in time that ‘it has’.
Hussain-TheCanadian
Another Queen faking it, eh Alistair?
Alistair Wiseman
@Mandrake:
Hold on there, pumpkin. What your saying is true up until November 2013, when then Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used a controversial parliamentary gimmick to unilaterally reinterpret existing Senate rules. By use of the so-called “nuclear option,” Democrats established a principal that a simple majority in the Senate can overrun any rule at any time.
Instead of requiring 60 votes to end a debate on a nomination, Democrats lowered the threshold to 51.
What goes around, comes around…thank you Democrats. President Trump will have no problem getting the Cabinet of his choice.
Mandrake
@Alistair Wiseman: Wrong, Spaghetti Squash. Check the Constitution which specifically details how a President’s appointees must be approved. Any changes to the Constitution must be approved as an Amendment requiring 3/4 of the states’ approval.
ErikO
@Mandrake: Don’t forget about how a lot of Hillary supporters and paid Soros protesters are full of hate and are turning a lot of people off from what the Democratic party considers to be left/leftist candidates who are actually moderate conservatives.
Alistair Wiseman
@Mandrake:
Gosh, well you better call Washington, D.C. and let Chuck Schumer know!
Sorry, but you are flat out wrong.
Below is an article from the left-wing Washington Post that talks about it. Otherwise, google “nuclear option” and it is all over the internet.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/powerpost/wp/2016/11/18/president-trumps-cabinet-picks-are-likely-to-be-easily-confirmed-thats-because-of-senate-democrats/
Alistair Wiseman
Mayor Morse is correct when he states it is, “…more important than ever before to speak out and come to together.”
However, I don’t see Queerty reporting on all the death threats by Democratic Hillary Clinton supporters against the Electoral College voters.
Hmmm…why is that?
http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20161118/death-threats-hate-mail-wont-sway-county-electoral-college-voters
Mandrake
@bushwickfreddy: I must eat squash! You are indeed correct! Only a majority is required!
Mandrake
@Alistair Wiseman: You are indeed correct! Pumpkin for dinner tonight!
Alistair Wiseman
@Mandrake:
I understand. The queasiness of cognitive dissonance is never easy to swallow. 🙁
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/nov/22/harry-reid/harry-reid-among-flip-floppers-senates-nuclear-opt/
He BGB
Back on topic, how is being gay selfish?
GayEGO
@Mandrake: Fasten your seat belts it is going to be a bumpy ride!
GayEGO
@He BGB: We know the mayor is not selfish, but the homophobic have damaged brains and cannot think logically.
ErikO
This looks fake. Or the mayor of this small town wants media attention.
DarkZephyr
@Mandrake:
“@Alistair Wiseman: Wrong, Spaghetti Squash…”
ROFLMAO!! Thank you Mandrake for giving me life for a few minutes. I needed this laugh today.
DarkZephyr
@Alistair Wiseman: is there even a TINY part of you capable of saying something like “Gee, sending letters like this to an LGBT person is a pretty sh*tty thing to do” like, at all?
Kangol
@ErikO: The “paid protesters” bit is a hoax. It’s been debunked repeatedly. @DarkZephyr: I agree, that was hilarious! And no, Alistair really does not have any problem defending homophobes on the right. None at all.
Cajaquarius
Homophobes and all social conservatives suffer from a psychological disorder known as Right Wing Authoritarianism. Google “Bob Altemeyer” and “The Authoritarians” and read the free ebook for yourself. Based on 30 years of research and rock solid. The problem we have always had on the left is we consider these people our equals when they are sick and unworthy of respect.