GOP candidate who called teen 'skinhead lesbian' quits race

by John Paul Brammer
Mar.19.2018

The Maine Republican who called one Florida school shooting survivor a “skinhead lesbian” and another a “bald-faced liar” is quitting the race for a seat in the state's House of Representatives. Leslie Gibson was widely criticized last week for insulting two survivors of last month’s shooting in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 people. The Portland Press Herald reports Gibson said Friday that he’s walking away with his “head held high.” One of the teenage students Gibson attacked online was Emma Gonzalez; he said there was “nothing about this skinhead lesbian” that impressed him. Gonzalez is openly bisexual. The other student Gibson attacked was David Hogg, and he and Gonzalez have become leaders in the effort to combat gun violence. Gibson had been running unopposed in the 57th District contest until his comments became public. Now Republican Thomas Martin Jr. and Democrat Eryn Gilchrist are running. Gilchrist says she was “horrified” at the idea of Gibson representing her.

“I never thought I would run for office, and I was perfectly content with just remaining a member of the community, but after reading Mr. Gibson’s comments I thought that the people of Greene and Sabattus deserved a representative who will respect people and try to work through their differences to make our lives better,” Gilchrist said in a statement. Gonzalez took to Twitter to thank Gilchrist after she announced her candidacy, Gonzalez's first and only comment on the matter. "All I can say is thank you," Gonzalez said. Gibson did issue an apology to Gonzalez, according to Maine's Sun Journal.

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Rogue Valley said:

GOP candidate who called teen 'skinhead lesbian' quits race

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez



It's good to see folks stepping up and opposing the rubbish. Americans are getting tired of the sleazy Trumpism movement.

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tres borrachos said:

It's a sad state of affairs in this country today that adults act like little children, and engage in petty name calling like this moron did.

Leading by example was always something that we managers and executives were very careful about. This is how I want you to act, so I'm going to lead you along by demonstrating it myself. I'm an adult, and I want children to be as mature as possible by acting mature myself.

Too bad the Republicans don't live that. From the leader on down, it's all about attacks, petulant name calling, bad childish behavior.....

The kids are more adult than today's Republicans. How ****ing sad is that?

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Rogue Valley said:

GOP candidate who called teen 'skinhead lesbian' quits race

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma Gonzalez



It's good to see folks stepping up and opposing the rubbish. Americans are getting tired of the sleazy Trumpism movement.

Click to expand...