Republican politician refuses to apologise after somehow using homophobic slur in comment about church shooting
Chris Rowe (L) and stock image (R) (Pexels)
A Republican politician has been forced to step down after he used a homophobic slur on Facebook – but he has refused to apologise.
Chris Rowe, who was chair of the Republican Party in New Castle County, Delaware, used the slur in a comment on Facebook about a church shooting in Texas.
The comment – which has since been deleted but was captured by Blue Delaware – reads: “F*****s cannot handle reality. Bad guy loses FB pisses themselves.”
Republican leadership branded Chris Rowe’s actions as ‘inept’.
Chris Rowe is not the only Republican in trouble for offensive language. The party has also been heavily criticial of Sussex County Republican Party vice-chairwoman Nelly Jordan, who has come under fire over a Facebook post that was seen as derogatory against Jewish people. Party leaders have since asked both Rowe and Jordan to resign.
A statement from leaders of Delaware’s House of Representatives Republican Caucus shared by NBC Philadelphia read: “The inept actions of Mr. Rowe and Ms. Jordan are unacceptable and do not represent the integrity Delaware Republicans have always strived to maintain.
I have requested Christ Rowe’s resignation and he has agreed to tender it. His comment was offensive and did not reflect the values of respect and tolerance held dear by the Delaware Republican Party.
“We call for both to immediately issue an apology and step down from their leadership roles. If they remain unwilling to do so, action should be taken to remove them from their posts.”
Chris Rowe defended his use of f****t as ‘locker room talk’.
In a bizarre Facebook post to the GOP of New Castle County Facebook page, Rowe defended his use of the slur and claimed that he has been using the word since long before it developed its anti-gay meaning.
He also defended the comment as “locker room talk between two men” and claimed that people in his own party were simply choosing to be offended by the word. He went on to staunchly claim that he is not homophobic.
Jane Brady, chair of the Republican Party of Delaware, said: “Neither I nor the Delaware Republican Party, which I represent, condone any statements that demean or show disrespect to others.
“I have requested Christ Rowe’s resignation and he has agreed to tender it. His comment was offensive and did not reflect the values of respect and tolerance held dear by the Delaware Republican Party.”
