Dear Republican Friend: The fact that I am heterosexual is a matter of public record.

Former Raleigh mayor Tom Fetzer says he will sue a Wilmington radio host for libel for forwarding an e-mail that alleges he is gay. A longtime Republican political consultant, Fetzer is running for head of the state party.

In an e-mail to supporters today, he said that he intends to "vigorously pursue legal action" against radio host Curtis Wright, his employer, WLTT, and corporate owner Sea-Comm Media.

"The fact that I'm 54 and single does not mean that I have to put up with vicious rumors that I'm gay," he wrote in the e-mail. "The fact that I am heterosexual is a matter of public record."

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Dear Republican Friend:

I apologize in advance for the content of this message, but as you can see, I had no other choice.

Tuesday, Curtis Wright, a radio and television talk show host in Wilmington, forwarded an anonymous letter alleging that I am gay to Republican leaders throughout North Carolina. The letter is a lie, written by a lying coward. I can't sue the lying coward, but I have authorized my attorneys to sue Curtis Wright and the media outlets he works for.

You can click here to view a copy of the letter my attorney sent to Mr. Wright, WLTT, and Sea-Comm Media.

There are two things you need to know:

1) I am not gay - never have been - never will be. There is absolutely no evidence whatsoever to support any of the scurrilous allegations made in the anonymous attack on me.

2) I will spare no cost or hardship in defending my good name. I intend to vigorously pursue legal action against any and all who spread these lies. The fact that I'm 54 and single does not mean I have to put up with vicious rumors that I'm gay. The fact that I am heterosexual is a matter of public record. The News & Observer once even reported (erroneously) that I had eloped.

I will marry one day, and soon I hope, when I find a woman I can't live without who feels the same way about me. Not before. And not for any other reason. My parents divorced and perhaps that has made me more cautious than most. But I will get married for the right reason. Of the many wrong reasons to get married, to do so in order to fill-out one's political resume tops the list.

I have been involved in politics for over 30 years -- as an activist, a candidate and an elected official - and this is the most outrageous smear I have ever seen.

And I will not tolerate it. Neither should you. Neither should our Party.

As I have traveled around the state, I have made it clear that I will be a Chairman who will FIGHT for our Party and our principles. I'm also going to FIGHT to defend my good name.

The best way to fight a lie is with the truth and that's what I intend to do. I hope you will stand with me in making it clear to those who would disseminate this kind of garbage that there is no room in our Party for them or their lies.

Now, I'm going back to work and continue to focus on leading our Party to victory in the next two years. I ask you to join me in that effort.

Sincerely,

Tom

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/fetzer_to_sue_over_gay_allegation

How will he live with himself?

and THAT'S the most vicious smear he's ever seen? ..and he's a republican?

so what - gay / straight, i dont give a shit - just be honest to/for the people who elected you.

But THIS is the thing that makes him take notice. Y'know, because it's so HORRIBLE!

EVEN IF HE IS GAY - I DONT CARE !!!!!!!!!

Ah hahahahahahahaha!

but I must say I respect that fact that he insists he's not going to marry a beard to make the rumors go away. That's been done too often.

Mostly, I hope for the day when speculation that one is gay is not seen as an "accusation".

would be if anyone called me a homophobic, regressive fucking Republican....

Do you file some kind of document or affidavit at your county courthouse?

And anyhow, what kind of disgusting nonsense is this? He's threatening to sue because somebody said he was gay, because (obviously) he thinks there's something horribly wrong with being gay. He writes of "vicious rumors" and "defending his good name" and an "outrageous smear." Seems to me the really outrageous smear is of all gay people. Watta douche.

< > Check here if you love peen.

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Name Date


If nobody else had to sign that maybe the clerk was just trying to ask me out. :shrug:

:rofl:

is protesting too much and if he is not the biggest closet case in history then he is one of the biggest homophobes to ever live. Agreed, total douche.

last year when I went through a security clearance process.

There was a list of about a dozens things (some of which I had never heard of), that I could use to identify myself.

:evilgrin:

Isn't that a requirement for leadership in the Republican Party?

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that is factually wrong and harmful to your reputation, it's SLANDER not LIBEL (to be libel, they would have to PRINT it).

As to the alleged SLANDER... how is being "gay" harmful to your reputation? You are already an admitted republican, you have no reputation.

a morning radio shock jock. Implied that the shock jock made the allegation on the airwaves, not in print.

Perhaps I got it wrong.

It says the radio personality forwarded an email containing the accusation.

But I still agree that being an self-proclaimed Republican has damaged his reputation more. ;)

and wrote a response.

had that recorded in. What public records are these? I'm married to a woman but there was nothing requiring me to state my sexual orientation in that.

Within his particular realm of associations, being a homosexual is viewed as being unacceptable. No denying that.

However, his biggest focus should on the alleged slander itself.

The point of the slander obviously is to diminish his influence within that community of anti-gay bigots.

If the allegations are unfounded, I think that he has a good case for slander.

So my heterosexuality is a matter of public record.



* What the school newspaper didn't tell you, gentle reader, is that I went home with my sister's date! Ooh, what I rascal I was!

i bet you don't get anything as cool as a panini grill though.