County Commissioner Brian Blair from Hillsborough County, Florida has just sent out a nasty anti-gay email to his supporters to oppose the National Day of Silence scheduled for April 25.

In the e-mail, Commissioner Brian Blair told his supporters that the day, which is being held in the memory of 15-year-old hate crime victim Lawrence King, is promoting a “social and sexual agenda upon the rest of us and especially, our children.” 

The e-mail includes information provided by the American Family Association that warns parents to: “Explain to your children why you're taking a stand: Homosexual behavior is not an innate identity; it is a sinful, unnatural and destructive behavior."

This email conveniently comes out while Blair is in a tight race with openly gay candidate Kevin Beckner.  

The email reads: 

“Dear Friends, 

I have always believed that all citizens are equal and should be treated accordingly. On the other hand, no group of citizens should be given government sanction and support to promote their social and sexual agenda upon the rest of us and especially, our children.  The attached email provides information about a "Day of Silence" for homosexuals in our schools.  Considering the fact that the same school system does not want to allow just one Minute of Silence in the classroom for God, this is preposterous. I encourage every parent of children in the participating schools to voice their opposition to this proposal to the school administration, the School Board the newspapers and to family and friends.  Can you imagine asking for a "Day of Cheer for Heterosexuality?"  If no action is taken to change this policy, then perhaps it is time for another surgical strike from the majority; a "Day of Abstention" from school participation might be considered. 

Kindest Regards,
Brian Blair 

But the crazy keeps coming as he attaches this “action alert” from the right-wing fundamentalist group American Family Association: 

“On, Friday, April 25, several dozen schools in Florida will be observing 'Day of Silence (DOS).' DOS is a nationwide push to promote the homosexual lifestyle in public schools… 

1.       Be sure of the date that DOS is planned for your school. (The national date is April 25, but some schools observe DOS on a different date.) 

2.       Inform the school of your intention to keep your child home on that date and explain why. 

3.       Explain to your children why you're taking a stand: Homosexual behavior is not an innate identity; it is a sinful, unnatural and destructive behavior. No school should advance a physically, emotionally, and spiritually destructive sexual lifestyle to students. 

4.       Schools do not have to tolerate students remaining silent in class. Schools can adopt policies that require parental consent for students to attend any club, including those premised on sexual orientation or gender identity.” 

Let’s get this straight.  Apparently we have to stop “destructive behavior” in schools, which in Blair and the AFA’s opinion doesn’t include murder like in Lawrence King’s case.  It doesn’t get much more “destructive” than being shot in school, does it?   Why are these people not speaking out against that type of behavior or “taking a stand” against that “sinful act”?  Instead they keep spreading the hate that leads to horrible acts like King’s murder.  They put more kids in danger under the guise of “protecting the children.” It’s truly disgusting that Blair is using this day of silent, peaceful protest and remembrance to bash his opponent and try to get votes.  I know politics are dirty, but this is downright stomach turning. 

But this isn’t Blair’s first time at the gay-hating rodeo. 

In 2005, Blair voted to prevent the county government from acknowledging gay pride celebrations.  The same act also banned public libraries from putting up displays that celebrate Pride Month in June. Blair’s opponent is Kevin Beckner (www.KevinBeckner.com).  Beckner is an extremely active LGBT rights advocate who works with great groups like Equality Florida and the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. 

Blair has repeatedly used anti-gay sentiment against Beckner in the campaign. Blair is the type of politician our community must rally against and get out of office.  Spreading virulent hate like what is in this email directly relates to the violence and bigotry that LGBT youth face on a daily basis.  

Let’s rally behind our kids, our community, and our candidates so we can get bigots like this out of office.  I encourage everyone to give what you can to Kevin Beckner’s campaign and write Brian Blair (blair.brian@gmail.com) to let him know what you think. 

Click Brian Blair to read about the commissioner’s glory days as a wrestler and his frivolous lawsuit.

Waymon Hudson, the Homo Politico, is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the GLBT community to fight discrimination and hate.  www.fightOUTloud.org