GOP delegate compares gay community to Ku Klux Klan
Delegate Eric Porterfield, R-Mercer, made the comments after calling a reporter to discuss a report in Friday’s Gazette-Mail. That report detailed a flurry of criticism House Democrats aimed at Porterfield on Thursday in response to an inflammatory anti-gay and lesbian rant he delivered in committee Wednesday.
“The LGBTQ is a modern day version of the Ku Klux Klan, without wearing hoods with their antics of hate,” Porterfield said in an interview Friday morning. He also called the gay community a “terrorist group” and said he is being “persecuted” by the gay community in retaliation for his remarks, including receiving threats on Facebook and voicemails.
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House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, responded Friday to Porterfield’s comments . . .
“I hope that no one would make those kind of statements,” he said. “That sounds like nothing I would certainly ever agree with, but I would want to talk to him before I comment on what he said.”
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House Republicans sought to distance themselves from Porterfield’s remarks.
House Judiciary Chairman John Shott, who shares a district with Porterfield, declined to comment, as did Delegate Vernon Criss, R-Wood.
Some were more candid.
“He’s wrong, very wrong,” said Delegate Daniel Linville, R-Cabell. “There’s just no excuse though for some of the things that he said.”
Delegate John Mandt, R-Cabell, said he didn’t appreciate Porterfield’s sentiments.