Comments on: Gray board appointee called gays ‘faggots’

By: squats

squats — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 15:30:07 +0000

yeah I’ve heard that older & wiser line before, right after Leroy Thorpe made a nice girl cry at an ANC meeting for wanting to fix up a park.
http://blog.inshaw.com/2011/09/bundy-field.html

By: Yolly Rodgers

Yolly Rodgers — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:04:17 +0000

Everybody deserves redemption, especially reformed biggots and racists, who have changed their ways. Bigotry and racism come from ignorance of the unknown and lack of information. Who are we to judge others, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. I have heard many blacks use the N word, and gays use offensive slurs. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has the right to change and become a member of society in good standing. Leroy Thorpe was not threatened by gay people or whites, but what gentrification meant for his historic African American neighborhood. No excuse for his past and previous alleged statements, but he deserves sympathy and forgiveness like every single one of us.

By: Charles Walker

Charles Walker — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:16:10 +0000

Christopher Dyer was at a benefit held in my home on July 15, 2010 to help pay Martin Moulton’s legal expenses in fending off the ultimately unsuccessful, yet costly, Dan Snyder style lawsuit that Thorpe filed. He contributed to Martin’s legal defense fund. I spoke with him at length at that event. I was very surprised to read here that he thinks Thorpe is not really homophobic. I guess he must be angling for a job in the Gray administration and willing to sell himself to the highest bidder. For shame.

By: Wayne Turner

Wayne Turner — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 16:52:43 +0000

The Blade articles omits the infamous incident when Thorpe screamed “faggot” at Councilmember David Catania

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/2503/making-the-rounds

By: Martin Moulton @CCCAPrez

Martin Moulton @CCCAPrez — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:11:54 +0000

Hi Mr Chibbaro,

Your article misstates and mis-characterizes the relationship between CCCA and other community groups and members. The CCCA and I have tried to reach out our hand with open meetings and dialogues to work with every other member of the Shaw community and beyond (the NW Columbia Heights Community Association asked us to participate in a meeting earlier this week and we have a healthy rapport with our neighboring MVSNA, Bates, LeDroit and Blagden Alley civic associations). As you can see from this site, [URL removed], it is the ECCA, lead by Thorpe, that has barred and banned community members (and according to other reports, even some Councilmember Evans’ own staff) from participating in meetings.

When I contacted you I clearly stated that judging from the “GLAA 2010 Questionnaire for DC Mayor Candidates”, Thorpe’s appointment contradicted what Mr Gray promised he would not honor individuals, not simply with records of GLBT related bigotry, but “any sort of bigotry.”

By: Martin Moulton

Martin Moulton — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 03:12:23 +0000

Let’s open all the prison gates and release anyone who says “I’ve changed.” Jesus said we shouldn’t judge anyone, but that would mean we’d have to get rid of our entire justice system and that might put a lot of lawyers on the unemployment rolls and trigger a Depression.

By: Charles Walker

Charles Walker — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 01:09:56 +0000

This whole episode demonstrates to me that, in the District of Columbia, homophobia is considered to be a lesser evil than racism. Gay people who minimize Thorpe’s homophobia should be ashamed of themselves.

By: Loquacios D

Loquacios D — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:28:15 +0000

The Mayor and Evans do not condone every single belief of ever single person who asks for a rec or to be an a board. Give me a break – why should they be held to such a standard? Should they also ask about his religious beliefs and thoughts on the war in Iraq? The only story here is how Martin Moulton will go to any means to get back at Leroy. Such a sad story – Moulton has truly gone off of the deep end.

By: Rick Rosendall

Rick Rosendall — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:17:36 +0000

Until and unless I see evidence or testimony to the contrary, I am prepared to take Leroy Thorpe at his word that he has changed. But let’s briefly note aspects of his history, in addition to what Lou has reported. Over the years, I encountered Thorpe at police-related D.C. Council hearings at which he was highly belligerent. Shaw residents told me of his habitual antagonism, which eventually caused him not to be re-elected to his ANC position.

Some years ago, someone who objected to Thorpe’s testimony at one hearing tried to get him in trouble at work for it. After learning that he had duly taken leave to attend the hearing, GLAA sent a letter, and copied him, pointing out that the First Amendment protected his right to express his views on his own time, however offensive they might be to others. (We do not believe that freedom of speech belongs only to people with whom we agree.) Thorpe showed his hostile attitude and assumptions by returning GLAA’s letter unopened, with “rejected” written on the envelope. Others indicated this was par for the course with him. If he has improved his attitude since then, it should be welcomed as in the story of the Prodigal Son.

I am sure that my old friend Philip Pannell does not mean to suggest that attending his birthday party erases a person’s anti-gay record. But if so, perhaps he should claim a miracle and sell the Pannell version of Lourdes water to people seeking to be cleansed.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:15:53 +0000

Sadly, bigotry and prejudice are allowed in the black community, directed toward anyone but other blacks. It’s the fault of any Gay man or woman to allow this, and shame on Jim Graham. He has just lost my vote and the votes of countless others who see what a chickens**t he is.