After standing by an anti-gay Facebook post last week, Michigan Republican National Committeeman Dave Agema on Sunday took to the social networking site again to claim there are “reems (sic) of studies showing the negative health affects (sic)” of homosexuality.
According to a release from Grand Traverse County Republican precinct delegate Dennis Lennox, Agema was responding to a petition that urged the Republican Party to increase inclusivity. Lennox sent screen grabs of Agema’s comments.
According to Lennox, Oakland County Young Republican Brad Fingeroot responded by saying, “Dave, thank you for civilly engaging in this discussion. Our point is that it is one thing to articulate your values but another to be mean about them. Virtuous decorum is symbolic of a principled man of integrity. Let’s keep the smut on the sidelines.”
Here is Agema’s response:
Lennox said in a statement accompanying the release that he has led the calls for Agema’s resignation. He added:
“After trying to hide his ignorance and bigotry for several days, Dave Agema has finally admitted he seeks to promote hate, viciousness and vitriol instead of the Republican Party’s traditional forward-looking message of equal opportunity for all. Dave Agema’s extremism has no place in our Republican Party.”
Slate’s Dave Weigel was first to report Agema’s latest comments.
