GOP Candidate Opposes LGBT Civil Rights Laws, Admits He Has Active Profile On Gay Dating Site
Posts Biblical Message To Facebook When Outed
Brent Randall is 53. He’s a Republican who opposes expanding protections to LGBT people through the law. News broke late last week that he has an active profile on an online dating site that boasts it’s the “world’s largest gay hookup site.”
Randall, a local sports broadcaster and businessman, is running to represent the citizens on Goshen, Indiana on the city council. Goshen does not have an LGBT civil rights nondiscrimination law, and Randall says he opposes one, claiming LGBT people are already protected by law, which is incorrect.
“Randall has walked his party’s line in voicing his opposition to adding the words ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to the city’s civil rights ordinance, noting that he feels members of the LGBT community are currently protected under existing law and an amendment is not needed locally,” local news site The Goshen News reports. Randall’s Democratic opponent, Adam Scharf, “has voiced strong support for such added protections for the city’s LGBT community.”
“I still believe in my heart of hearts,†Randall claims, “that our gay and lesbian communities are protected currently under the law.â€
When asked about his Adam4Adam profile, Randall told the Goshen News, “I don’t even know if I consider myself bisexual or not. I just experimented a little since I was single again.â€
As far as a nondiscrimination law, that’s off the table until at least next year, Goshen’s mayor says. But Randall isn’t changing his position regardless.
“I don’t know why they feel they need special protections when there are other categories that might need protections,” he says of LGBT people. “My little experimentation over the last six years hasn’t changed my view on that.”
Meanwhile, the GOP is standing by their candidate.
“He is the same person today as he was yesterday and is the right person to serve on City Council representing District 5,†Goshen Republican mayoral candidate Mary Cripe says. “We are deeply saddened to see someone’s private personal life be exposed, by no choice of his own, for what can only appear to be political motivations. His entire life is turned upside down. Our only hope is that this is not some type of political tactic by the opposing party, as we all signed the Fair Campaign Pledge.â€
Earlier this year Indiana governor Mike Pence made national headlines after signing into law an anti-LGBT “religious freedom” bill that cost the state not only tax dollars but reputation. Pence was forced to hire a PR agency and reportedly budgeted several million dollars to rehabilitate the Hoosier state’s reputation.
After Randall was outed, he posted this biblical message to his Facebook page:
Posted by Brent Randall on Saturday, October 24, 2015
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Image via Facebook
Hat tip: Joe.My.God.
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