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UNCG student's political action committee takes on county GOP

Sophomore Matt Hill Comer led NCAC in demanding apology for anti-gay blog post

Kitty Campbell

Posted: 7/25/06

After more than a week of rapid-fire press releases and interviews with the media, the North Carolina Advocacy Coaltion, a state-wide LGBT political action committee directed by UNCG sophomore Matt Hill Comer, failed to receive an apology from Guilford County Republican Party Chair Marcus Kindley, who in a recent blog post compared homosexuality to pedophilia.

In the July 10 blog post, Chairman Kindley said that homosexuality is "as natural as pedophilia." The statement was part of a post criticizing churches for "degrad[ing] their beliefs" in an attempt "to be everything to everybody." As an example, Kindley stated, "We now say that homosexuality is ok. That it is natural. Yes it is as natural as pedophilia." In the post, Kindley predicted that, "Our lack of standards, our lack of faith, our lack of leadership in society of right and wrong...are leading our nation down into the abyss of mediocrity."

"Chairman Kindley's remarks represent a harmful form of anti-gay prejudice and ignorance surrounding issues of sexuality, mental health and the law," said NCAC Executive Director Matt Hill Comer in a July 11 press release. "These remarks degrade peaceful, law-abiding and community-minded LGBT North Carolinians by comparing them to mentally ill individuals responsible for the mental, physical and sexual abuse and exploitation of children, the most vulnerable and precious members of our society."

Kindley responded on the same evening in an email, saying his statement had been taken out of context. "I never attacked Homosexuals, I only made an observation about what is natural and what is not," he wrote. "I take offense to you taking out of context what was written for your own political agenda." The following day, Kindley added an addendum to his blog post, stating, "...a better choice of words could have been used here.. as natural as a fish riding a bicycle."

NCAC denied taking Kindley's words out of context, stating in a press release, "By stating homosexuality is as 'natural as pedophilia' Mr. Kindley's effect is to persuade the public into thinking homosexuality is as immoral, repulsive and perverse as pedophilia and the abuse and exploitation of children."

Chairman Kindley appeared on 107.5 KZL's "Murphy in the Morning Show" on July 13 and made no apology for his previous statements. Rollin Kibbe, President of the Triangle chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans, also appeared on the show. The Log Cabin Republicans is a group of Republicans who are also lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. On the show, Kibbe stated that he was offended by comments Kindley made during the show and felt that Kindley didn't realize his mistake in comparing homosexuals to pedophiles.

NCAC also took to the airwaves July 14, with Comer appearing on the Brad and Britt Morning Show on 101.1 FM. Kindley declined to appear on the show for personal reasons, having stated to WFMYNews 2 (July 13) that he did not want to give "Comers [sic]...any more press." During the interview, Comer explained NCAC's actions in response to Chairman Kindley's post, saying, "You just cannot make comparisons between people who live normal homosexual lives and have normal relationships with consenting adults with people who are responsible for the sexual, mental and physical abuse and exploitation of a child." NCAC has stated that they want Chairman Kindley to "understand that his comments are harmful to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

The NCAC repeatedly demanded an official apology and retraction from Chairman Kindley and the Guilford County Republican Party. However, in a July 17 press release, Comer indicated that the NCAC would let the matter drop as no apology seemed to be forthcoming. As stated in the press release, "The North Carolina Advocacy Coalition would still like to see Mr. Kindley issue an apology for his remarks, but will for now lay this issue to rest as we feel our points have been made to the fullest extent possible."

Chairman Kindley's blog, titled "The Chairman's Corner," states that "This blog is not an offical [sic] blog of the Guilford County Republican Party and represents the thoughts and musings of the writer only." In a July 13 press release, NCAC stated that this disclaimer was added to the blog after the controversial post was made and NCAC contacted the Chairman.

All NCAC press releases as well as information about the PAC can be found at www.ncadvocacycoalition.org. Chairman Marcus Kindley's blog is available at http://guilfordchairman.blogspot.com.