Meet Shanel Soucy. She’s currently running to be a member of the Worcester School Committee in Massachusetts. She also appears to be a raging homophobe. At least, according to comments made on her social media page.
Screenshots from Soucy’s personal Facebook page are circulating online and, let’s just say, she does not appear to be a fan of gay people, even though some of her “closest friends” are allegedly LGBTQ.
“Some of my closest friends, clients and more practice this lifestyle and I have always been clear about my beliefs about it,” she allegedly commented when asked about her stance on LGBTQ issues last month. “I do not support it anymore than I support sex outside of marriage.”
But she didn’t stop there. Soucy went on to suggest that gay people are possessed by a “demonic influence” that compels them to behave in evil ways.
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“Whether these behaviors come from demonic influence or the evils that lie in our own hearts, or both, it is not up to me to decide for anyone else,” she allegedly wrote.
We say “allegedly” because, when asked about the comments this week, Soucy claimed the screenshots were “falsified” by a “hate group” that doesn’t like her opposition to Worcester’s new sex ed curriculum, which she says contains “pornographic indoctrinal [sic] teachings.”
“The LGBTQ community are people,” Soucy told Patch in a phone interview. “They’re human beings.”
Well! At least she recognizes our humanity!
Asked specifically about the “homosexual behavior” comment, Soucy wouldn’t address it, instead saying, “I love and respect all people” before abruptly ending a phone call and refusing to return any follow-up calls.
“Because I stuck my neck out and will continue to stick my neck out for these children and all the children in Worcester Public Schools,” she said. “Because I did, a hate group and sadly even some of our current school committee members and public officials have joined in to pass around falsified comments in hopes to paint me as someone who’s against the LGBTQ community.”
“I’m disgusted.”
We’re disgusted, too.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
j rn
Wow! I live and work in Worcester. Finally a local politician on here I can actually vote against.
MikeM
Worcester is such a cool city! So welcoming and fun, I can’t imagine she’ll get very far.
Fname Optional Lname
Oh she is the worst kind of bigot for she will spew her venom to anyone and everyone until she is face to face with an LGBTQ person at which time she puts on a sh#t eating grin and wants to let you know she “tolerates” your existence! Someone needs to inform her that we do not “practice a lifestyle” we live our lives – fighting bigotry and advocating for the same basic human rights she is provided with even though she does nothing but spread hatred and ugliness where ever she may roam.
trolldiva
Even money says that she believes any group that fights for LGBTQ+ equality (and exposes her rabid homophobia) is a “hate group”.
Matthewnow
Where is she going to get her hair done now?
j rn
Update! She lost… and got the fewest votes to boot!