O-M-G. This is a joke, right???? Please tell me that this is a crank letter....please.

Let me be the first to say that we have elected someone who appears to be quite unstable. Nearly every person who wrote into this site wrote to condemn what Rep Gordon has said. This man is now saying that the people who wrote in support of the GSA could be arrested for for lewdnessand child neglect. Reop Gordon you are full of it. Hopefully you will enjoy your one term as our Rep and then will go back to work on your construction company that no one seems to know about.

What I would like to know is do groups like the TCC, PCC, Tiverton Republican and Portsmouth Republicans still support this man? Their silence is deafening.

Rep. Gordon, you're off to a great start as a freshman state legislator.

First, you threaten to cut off funding to your own constituents' public high school because a few students, blessed with far more maturity and intelligence than you appear to possess, form a group to promote tolerance and diversity, under the wise and guiding hand of an experienced educator.

Now, after one of your House colleagues calls you out (no pun intended), you issue a public call for his arrest for "inducing lewdness." Well, best of luck getting ANY of your legislation passed up at the State House now. You're going to be extremely helpful to your constituents when it comes to the issues they really care about, like jobs and the economy. Here's a news flash for you: Speaker of the House Gordon Fox is openly gay. (Maybe you were too busy worrying about "sexed-up" high school kids to pick up on that.) Equating homosexuality with lewd and obscene behavior isn't going to open any doors for you.

But, if you won't be busy drafting bills and forging mature working relationships with your colleagues, at least you'll have plenty of time to read Texas state court decisions and polish your gaydar skills.

I hope Cynda Martin challenges you in the next election. Someone should start a Draft Martin campaign. Having a voice of reason representing us would be a nice change.

"nearly all men can stand adversity,but if you want to test a man's character- give him power"- Abraham Lincoln.
This man-and those who endorsed him are a testement to what has to change-and that people who have this kind of hate speech mentality need to be removed from any kind of representative position. He is setting up a very dangerous course of action. He does not represent me on any level-and he needs to be called out at once....and if this is all for publicity- then he is more dangerous than I thought.

Let me spell this out for you, Dan, because it's seems like your struggling to understand: the reason we need groups like this in high schools is because there are people out there like you and your supporters. People who will humiliate, bully, exclude and harass people because of their sexual orientation. People who would suggest to a teenager, at a critical moment in their lives and development that hey hide or stifle who they really are, because of what others may think. If you haven't noticed, the rest of us are trying to eradicate this stigma that gay people should live in hiding. There has been a movement in America to wake up and stop turning a blind eye towards bullying, and you are holding every one back. As a graduate of Tiverton High School, I am so proud the students there are open, accepting and proactive. Go THS students! Go Ms. Martin! Don't let anyone tell you to stifle what's true and good!

I'd just like to say I'm at college, and have been both inspired and amazed to hear about Cynda's act of courage in creating this group. However, Representative Gordon's stance on this has truly disgusted me. In order to gain sympathy for his close-minded view, he has portrayed the GSA as some sort of sex club. The very name Gay-Straight-Alliance lends credence to the groups true nature. The students don't gather to talk about their sexual preferences or hit on each other. A GSA meets to discuss issues between the relations of both Gay, Lesbian, and Straight parties. It's a group of understanding and fostering awareness of differences. I'm sure this has already been said to Representative Gordon, but after reading this I felt compelled to say something.

Additionally, I go to Boston College, a traditional Jesuit Catholic University in the Catholic tradition. As many of you know, Catholicism and homosexuality aren't always on the same page, and yet Boston College not only permits but encourages GSA groups and other such groups to form and flourish on campus. It is my belief that the University's leaders are willing to set aside their personal beliefs in order to ensure the happiness and safety of their Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Straight students equally. It is truly shameful that Representative Gordon would deny those same rights to our own high school students, at an age where they perhaps need it most. Apparently not all of us can be so open-minded.

I would just like to say that it is the RIGHT of the students at Tiverton High School to have a GSA. Whether you agree with the ideas of the club or not, is irrelevant. Tiverton High School has many non-curricular clubs that meet on school grounds, you can not BY LAW, deny these students, unless you deny every other non-curricular club in the Tiverton School System. The Equal Access Act says that if a public high school allows students to form one non-curricular club, then it can't say no to any other students who want to form any other type of non-curricular club. As for your concern with the club being obscene or inappropriate, isn't there a club advisor? I would think that if there were any inappropriate acts or discussions going on in this club, which can be the case in ANY after school club, that the club advisor would take care of the situation and bring it to someone's attention. Are you implying that the teachers at Tiverton High School are not capable of deeming something inappropriate or not? I think you need to take a step back and look at this from a politician's standpoint. Is it their LEGAL RIGHT to have a after school group? Not whether or not it makes you feel uncomfortable.

So, if this club re-named itself "The Asexual Alliance" you would feel better about it?

This is taken from a footnote to a ACLU Letter written to the Superintendent of Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, on the issue of website software blocking student access to LGBT advocacy groups:

"Only a single decision has held that a school could deny equal access to a GSA in order to protect students' "well-being." Caudillo vs Lubbock Indep. Sch. Dist., 311 F. Supp. 2d 550 (N.D. Tex. 2004). The Caudillo court reasoned that the school could legitimately exclude a GSA for including referrals to resources that purportedly fostered criminal conduct because at the time the underlying events in Caudillo occurred, the Supreme Court had not yet overtuned Texas' criminal prohibition on same-sex "sodomy." (Id. at 566-67). No court has ever cited approvingly to Caudillo, and the decision has been explicitly rejected on several occasions."

pg 4-5, footnote 2; http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/110411_ACLU_Letter_to_Goose_Creek.pdf - Accessed 4/13/2011

This doesn't really addressed the more disgusting aspects of what this letter implies about gay high school students and LGBT people in general, but it is useful to think about the implications of someone responsible for law-making using the law in such a selective, deceptive, and sinister fashion.

Just a note for you there Gordo, "The irony attached to that side of the issue, is that every single one, with the exception of two, contained threats, yelling, cursing, or a combination thereof." What part of that includes you telling someone who disagrees with you to "Eat S**t and die, F****t" on facebook? Unless you want to pretend that wasn't you again, in which case you should have facebook track the email. I bet $10 it came from directly from you, which is why you're hope everyone forgets about it.

Also I hardly think that your pissed-off constitutes telling you they will work to make sure you don't see a second term could be construed as threatening. You have shown yourself to be a dangerously out of touch old man who has no business representing anyone outside your delusions.

Whoa. Nice job Brendan. Dan is obviously hearing from and quoting from those anti gay hate groups listed as as such by the Southern Poverty Law Canter, like Mass Resistance. To name a few local hate groups; The United Northern and Southern Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, North Providence, RI; The racist skinheads of Connecticut White Wolves in Stratford, CT ; the black separatist Nation of Islam of Bridgeport, CT; the anti gay Abiding Truth Ministries of Springfield, MA. The list goes on. And on. There is a lot of hate and ignorance out there, ignoring the fact that all these gay and straight students are brothers and sisters and daughters and sons and loved. I wish I could vote in Tiverton's next election!

Ah, B Sullivan, if only he were an "old man" we could chalk this up as generational, but according to his RI House bio, he is 42 years old.
I wonder what his hiring practices are like at that huge construction company of his, Alliance Building Contractors. The one that builds bridges and oil pipelines. I wonder what Dan does during an interview if an applicant should "flaunt their sexuality". Wonder if it matters if the applicant is male or female?
I think Dan Gordon should do a follow up with Bill Rappleye.

Why do you think this is a sex club. the name should tell you that it is not. Gay Straight alliance do you think gay and straight kids are having sex together. Dan has to look past the gay part of the name and read the rest. Trying to convince Dan what this is realy about is like trying to reason with a turnup the have about the same i.q. too.

I am so proud of the administration and faculty at my alma mater, THS, for fostering an environment of support for LGBT youth. Rep. Gordon's attempt to minimize and marginalize the widespread support for the THS GSA is laughable. A group formed on Facebook in support of the club (THS Alumni Support the Gay-Straight Alliance) has more members than Mr. Gordon's own Facebook page. As someone pointed out on facebook, Mr. Gordon's ignorant comments have opened up an important dialogue within the community and given us a venue to express our support for LGBT youth in and out of Tiverton. I feel very thankful that Mr. Gordon is part of the ever-growing minority of those narrow-minded people who oppose civil rights and support for the LGBT community.

Quick question here has anyone thought about forwarding this to our Governor (I) Linc Chaffee??"?

CLARITY, at last. He really DOES hold the loathsome and bigoted position that we thought he did. Meanwhile, the writings contained within the commentary on Patch would make an outstanding read, in their own right. APPLAUSE to all of you who pounded your keyboards because your gut wouldn’t permit silence. Beginning with the brushfire in The Patch, many important discussions regarding tolerance have ignited.

NEC

Im a student at Tiverton High and i and appalled at the comments against OUR GSA. What is it that is so bad about it? I am not a member of GSA but i have seen one of there meetings and there meetings are NOT sexually centered at all. Also, why would we HAVE to change the name of the club to Anti bullying alliance? What is wrong with Gay straight alliance? Are you saying you are against Gays Mr. Gordon? Are you saying that if GAY wasnt in the name that then it would be ok? Im only 15 and i am not mad, but afraid to know that the Representative of our district is so air headed that he cant even REPRESENT everyone. Im so proud of my School. Not only has our test scores gone up as always, we went ABOVE the states standers this year. (Just thought i would let you know that Mr. Gordon) On top of it all we have a school where kids want to learn, a school where no matter, GAY , or straight ,or what ever, they have some where they can go and talk to peers about whats going on in there life or in school and peers can try to help make things better for each other. Thats whats going to bring test scores up. A place where kids can feel safe, a place where they are comfortable. Mr. Gordon, to have a 15 year old complain about the way your acting is very sad. I suggest for the sake of Our town ( not just your town) You step aside and let someone who will Represent EVERYONE take your place.

We need people like Mr. Gordon. Without backward thinking individuals such as he. How would we be able to gauge how far we have progressed from the dark ages he wishes to return to? Rep. Gordon is very concerned with kids getting sexed up. His time would be better spent working to keep his constituents from getting non-consentually sexed up by ever rising taxes and diminishing services.

I don't quite understand why anyone is allowing rep. Gordon to work them up. Part of life is dealing with small minded idiots, if we got upset everytime someone voiced an opinion we didn't agree with than a. We wouldn't be supporting freedom of speech, and b. Nothing would get done because everyone would be too busy yelling at brick walls.

I have to ask a question Rep Gordon. If your child was gay and consistently bullied in high school for their sexual orientation wouldn't you want a support group for them? Right now there are students who take daily abuse from people solely based on their sexual orientation other than their character. Right now there are students who are afraid of there sexual orientation and hide from there peers. The Gay-Straight alliance has given those students a home and a safe place to express themselves away from bullying and taunts. Any group that supports anti-bullying of any nature I would support whole-heartedly, and I suggest you should as well.

Regards to your "in loco parentis" comment if the parents of Tiverton High School have a problem with the group let them complain to the principal or superintendent. I see no reason why a local representative should be concerned let alone threaten to remove funding from our schools. Your role should be to make sure these students have the necessary resources to get the best education from our school and they can't get the best when on a daily basis they get tormented for their beliefs.

I firmly believe Rep Gordon has shown the town of Tiverton that he doesn't wants us to succeed and that he is not looking out for the best interests in the community and I believe that the town of Tiverton should express this come next election.

What is up with the term "sexed up"? Like really people how hard is it to understand that this is just an AFTER school club where kids can get together to talk about ways to help make schools ALL over the country better fit for kids of the 21st century. If you haven't noticed any teen that has something not weird but "different" about them selves such as gays are one of the main targets for bully's and it proves who ever has a problem with this and the kids involved in it. ARE BULLIES THEM SELVES. There is nothing else that goes on in this club. You have NEVER been to one of there meetings so who are ANY of you to say the kids are getting sexed up? Honestly im very ashamed to even know i live in a town with people who feel that we are getting sexed up.

In Wednesday's Sakonnet Times, "Asked if he seriously supported cutting school funding over this issue, Dan Gordon said, "No. I did make an off-the-cuff comment."
However, Dan posted the comment (on the Patch) a SECOND time including "I STAND BY WHAT I SAID".
Rep. Dan Gordon
10:22pm on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Bill, I didn't delete the comment. In fact just got off of the phone with the editor and had a conversation about it. I stand by what I said. Here is again, under my name.
"And this is why if I have anything to say about it, Tiverton will lose school funding to local charter schools. It doesn’t matter if gay or straight, if sexual meet-up groups are being promoted in our schools rather than improving test scores, that school is failing. Is it really more important for our children to get ’sexed-up’, than learning advanced math?"
What a liar.
Thanks to Rep. Edwards for standing up to this buffoon and letting his constituents know where he stands. What about the others? Where is the opposition? Where is the support - Rep. Doreen Costa, Rep. Dan Reilly, Rep. Bob Watson?
I don't think Dan Gordon is going to let this rest until he is on the TODAY show.

Our club had discussions of sex only when a counselor was present and it actually helped! GO TSA! STOP THE BIGOTS!

There are just too many comments to rebut this nonsensical rambling from an elected official but let me take a stab at it Mr. Gordon:
1. It is painfully obvious that you still have not seen the GSA group to learn more, like you said you would. It's also painfully obvious you are not in touch with reality.
2. It is very easy to claim a "plethora" of support for your public opinion when you don't listen to the opposition and when you silence the opposition by deleting their comments off your facebook page. Even at that, there was PLENTY of opposition to your comments before this and now that you made these new comments, go ahead and triple it.
3. Now, I do not want you to feel all scared or feel like I am yelling at you, so I am going to say this in my soft voice that I would use with children: You can't say you are getting "bullied" when people just flat out don't agree with you and are passionate about their opinion. People felt, and still feel, you are wrong about this. That is not bullying. That is public, adult discourse. Deal with it.

This guy is making district 71 look unstable and homophobic. He is trying to draw attention to himself just when this issue was dying down. I say we flood his office with calls tomorrow and let him know that his constituents the people he REPRESENTS do not feel the way he does. He does not care about the people but instead wants fame by doing this. I am disgusted. Let this be his last term. Call tomorrow. I will! 222-2259

The GSA is a group of young adults; someone's daughter, son, brother or sister. They are real people. My daughter is straight member of the GSA who believes in equality for everyone. She is NOT a delinquent nor is she prone to lewd behavior. Thanks, in part to THS, she IS a student heading off to an excellent college in the fall where she is sure to meet a diverse group of people with equally diverse beliefs. She is smart, a competitive equestrian, she holds a job, loves to read, and spend time with friends. Not sounding lewd or deviant?? She's not...just a kid who believes we are all created equal; that this is a country where we are free to adhere to the ideal of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". Raised to be compassionate, open minded and accepting of everyone, she joined the GSA to promote respect and acceptance among her peers and I am proud of her involvement. In contrast, your perverted insinuations about the GSA are egregious on levels too numerous to address here. But make no mistake, THS administration and school committee members etc..are no more acting “in loco parentis” than you are acting in the best interest of all your constituents. Your suggestion that they could be arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor is ludicrous,with no legal basis. You do have a right to your beliefs as a private citizen, as disturbing as they may be to many of us here, BUT so do the members of the GSA as set forth by the federal Equal Access Act.

Very sad that we have a representative that is so uninformed about the GSA but also about the true issues in our state that are occuring. Deflection of the serious budget issues, cuts to private industry, and increased taxes does not seem to be a concern to our representive here in this district. It continues to be puzzling to me that he continues to be justifying his personal beliefs and is willing to have this as a main issue for the very people he represents. Once again Mr Gordon we will remember in the upcoming elections and I will be following your voting record.

It is not about sex. We really do not want to seduce the straigts anyway and school is just the wrong place for it. GO GSA!

Dan seems to be so preoccupied gay sex I an beginining to wonder if he is one of those Republicans that like to hang out in airport men's rooms.

He could qualify for one of those camp counselor jobs!

Bigotry is expressed in many ways . The comments on this tread show it continues into adulthood.

If he could experience being gay for a day, they would truly understand. There would be no more bigotry. This is why we need the GSA, so others would have this feeling.

I would love to know who the people are that "Honorable" Gordon claims are siding with him. Wonder if he was part of a hate group as a kid? I applaud THS for their efforts!

If you heard Mr. Gordon's comments on the radio you might have picked up on it. Mr. Gordon has a very prominent lisp in his voice, almost sounded Gay himself (no Joke) I wonder how deep his closet is?? Not accusing him of being Gay, really don't care to each their own, but if it smells like crap there's usually a Turd near by.

I would like to ask Mr.Nelson of the TCC a question. Do you still support and endorse this man after the cruel and ridiculous things he has said? Does the TCC support a man who wants to defund our schools for the fact that a few students exercised their rights?

If he ever experienced the completeness of a gay relationship it would soften his terrible anger. There is a reason for everything in life. Mr. Gordn do not just tolerate --- ACCEPT and it may open you up to new ideals. By the way, if you are recalled into the marines you will have to, by law embrace gays. You may find them one day saving your life in Afghanistan. Would you then turn your back on them?

Bulgood,
Don't think he will be returning to the Marines. According to Dan's bio, he enlisted right after high school and served 4 years. His company, Alliance Building Contractors, incorporated in Connecticut, has a Serviced-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) designation. Having a SDVOSB gives him an advantage when bidding on government contracts. As far as I know, he has never mentioned the nature of his disability. If you go to www.VetBiz.gov, VIP list, and enter Alliance Building Contractors, you can get that information. Not sure how he does all that construction without being licensed in RI, CT or MA.

I think Dan is behind a push to ban meatballs from public school menus. "Balls" is just too suggestive a word to be used on a menu.

Well, let's put it this way senator -- Gay day, gay history, GSA and all the way Dan. You will like it or learn to like it or the school may be shut down -- and do not forget the day of silence and the kiss in.. you have not seen nothing yet!

Yvette Rosa
you have some nerve to call yourself "Honorable Dan Gordan" Talk about delusions of grandeur. And since you don't seem to have much of an education as is evidenced by your mindless chatter, here is the definition: delusion (common in paranoia) that you are much greater and more powerful and influential than you really are. You evidently were not cut out for politics. Gp back to your construction business, if you have one left when this is all over. Shame on you.

interesting

Some people say only a man who has loved another man can experience true feelings. All men are loved by their mothers initially so the initial love experience is woman to male love. To complete th there is man man love. So can you truley love without this love? Many may feel this final stage of developed love is the evolution of love. Frightened people develop deep phobias about this. Go GSA!

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on "hate speech".

Joe if you didn't think it or say it before someone else did, you should use quotations marks. But thank you for pointing out that Rep Gordon's word amy indeed be a form of hate speech.

DOES THE TCC STILL SUPPORT the not honorableMr. Gordon? MR. Nelson, Mr. Coulter how about an answer.

Well spoken. Soon, with advancement of genetics, some think there will be no more need for traditional marriage, which is actually slavery. TGwo men, joined together will be able to create an offspring borne not out of the desire to enslave but the desire to freedomize. Perhaps many will experience a new level of manhood rising above the relationship that the National Organization for Women has called slavery. Some say, what many call traditional marriage resembles involuntary servitude to the partner of the female role. This is now ending with new types of unions they say that are being formed each new day. Will the GSA help all who seek? Go GSA!

stoney la Shill , I was responding to yvette rosa 's remarks. Dan is a citizen of the United States and a elected representative. He fights his own battles. He doesn't need my support since I don't live in his district. So stop your shillyness.

Great news! Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people will be added to the lengthy list of social and ethnic groups that public schools must include in social studies lessons under a landmark bill passed Thursday. Next Move? After GSA we are going to coalesce and make sure we include BGLT history on the NECAPS and standardized Princeton tests .You will learn or you will not enter into school of higher learning under this program. You will learn about the struggle of the GBLT or you will be doomed to NO COLLEGE! This is the only solution to these bullying tough guys. Lock them out of higher learning if they lock their minds to the struggle of Harry Hay who is the ROsa PArks of the movement. Go GSA!

Before I comment on this article, I would like to know one thing. Who the hell is "stoney larue?" I agree with pretty much everything you have to say but have some class and post your thoughts and opinions under your real name. Im not a fan of people calling others out when they post under a "screen name." With that being said, Joe, you constantly make me laugh. I applaud your efforts to make your opinion known, but, sometimes I wonder if you just disagree to disagree.

Joe Sousa, Epiphany or self-preservation? You were quick to defend Dan a couple of weeks ago. Where is your standard, "He won, get over it"?
What can you tell us about Dan's construction company, Alliance Building Contractors? Is he still using the house he rents in Portsmouth as the business address when it is actually a CT business?
Have you heard him tell Island Park residents how concerned he is about the inspection of septic systems letter he received from DEM? He never mentions that he just forwards it to his landlady.
Anything, Joe? Any insight (wink)?

Tiverton Red,
Just noticed your contribution of the TCC yellow card. Nice touch. Thanks.
Does anyone know:
What questions were asked of candidates by TCC to gain their endorsement?
Have arrest warrants been issued for educators, administrators, Tiverton School Committee Chairwoman, State Democrat Party Chairman, Tiverton Democratic Town Committee Chairman, and the Honorable Jay Edwards for contributing to the delinquency of a child, inducing lewdness, or cruelty to or neglect of a child?

I will be writing and emailing various elected officials to express my displeasure with my "Representante Estatal Loco" or crazy state representative.

Robert Johnson, or who ever you are. I believe we are all entitled to our opinions. It was the reason we declared our independence. Freedom of religion and a free press .
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
His believes are just as valid as yours. His concerns just as heart felt as yours. I only point out your hypocrisy and lack of tolerance for those with an opposing view.

Joe, When did you point out my hypocrisy? Lack of tolerance? Dan Gordon has a uninformed view of a GSA and is incapable of understanding. At least you had the sense to pretend to be tolerant. I capped the pertinent parts.
Joe Sousa.
6:04am on Wednesday, March 30, 2011
How quickly they turn to name calling when they can't support an argument. I said I felt the schools are the wrong place to express ones sexual preference. The ignorance is from those who accuse me of bigotry . I NEVER SAID I WAS AGAINST CITIZENS LIVING THE LIFE STYLE THEY CHOSE.I said not in the schools . It distracts from their education .
Joe Sousa.
5:21pm on Saturday, April 2, 2011
Brian Flicker. I never referred to this club as a "Sexual Meet-up group". In my day that was the school dance. hahah I also have family members that are gay. I saw with my own eyes the harassment they took from the other kids. One still lives here and the other moved to New york. SEXUAL PREFERENCE IS EMBEDDED IN US AT CONCEPTION.We are born with genetic traits. Research on the human brain is showing some evidence of this. I am in no way saying I hold the answer. I only asked some questions and got some good answers

Robert,
Some say man to man love is the only true love as expressed in nature. If young adults are exposed to this what do you think would the harm be? Under our new president are we are more free in all phases of life, why not relations? Get a new brain and get some new thoughts to think with that brain, while opening it up!

The GSA is here to stay
We will never go away
Not just straight but straight and gay
this is working not just play

GO GO GSA!

Dan needs a good deep kiss from a sturdy Scot! He will change his way forever. Tiverton is Gay friendly. Let's keep it that way. Let's not spoil a good thing!

Mr. Nelson or anyone who speaks for the TCC. Does this man the "Honorable Dan Gordon," still merit your groups support and endorsement after threatening to defund the Tiverton Schools and claiming that those who support its student body should be jailed.

Dan says he is a commercial contractor in an interview with Capitol TV.
The following is copied from RI Contractors Site
1) Rhode Island law requires anyone who is in the business of commercial construction, home construction, alterations, remodeling, or repair to residents to be registered with the State of Rhode Island Contractors' Registration And Licensing Board.
2)Make sure contractor is registered with the Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board.
3) http://www.crb.state.ri.us/searchcontractor.php. From here, consumers can search using the construction company name or the owners name.
Can anyone find Dan Gordon or Alliance Building Contractors listed?
Did TCC verify that? Did TCC ask how long he lived in Portsmouth, or RI for that matter? How does Dan make a living? Dan doesn't own a house, has no wife, no kids, running a "business" out his rented house, no college degree, no community service - how could TCC think that he could possibly represent us? What qualities does Dan possess that TCC found so irresistable?

I know he was a combat vet so therefore maybe a lot of anger? Look let's forget about him. Many of the people here are not only gay friendly but let's say gay superfriendly! Let's focus on what we have - a greta community ready to openly embrace the gay lifestyle. Is there somewhere in Tiverton we should say let's meet and get to know each other? A park perhaps a beach, somewhere where nobody knows your name so to speak where we can let it all out like a club or meeting place?

Stumpdragger, we are understanding and we support our children, (Note only 3 members of the GSA are gay) Gay Super friendly may be a bit over the top. GSA is about tolerance for all types of people not just Gay. Shy, Fat, Tall, Ugly, Short, your basic bully targets. I correct you only to keep this thread on track. Mr. Gordon is the one who is stuck on the Gay word and can not seem to get by that or even acknowledge that GSA is for much more than the gay issue. This is not San Francisco, nor a Gay message board you last post kinda makes you sound like your trolling for some young stuff or a date, or you think all that post here are Gay, This is not the case most of us are Family and friends of these kids. If you want to help out the GSA get one of those larger Gay Groups to picket Mr. Gordon’s office or the State House as I do not see this being addressed by any news media. With all that said your are welcome to post your thoughts here but I only wanted you to understand this thread is not a dating social group.

I am for open human rights. Where were you during high school orientation when we needed more gay friendly support to hand out the bands? Gordon may he well be cloaked or closeted? Would a coming out party mean freedom for the patriot? Tiverton is gay friendly now let's get the community moving forward! I think a PRIDE day or PRIDE parade may be a great way to expand on the work of the GSA. Let's work together, every one!

All that matters in this life is LOVE. We are all here for great reason and should shine our light. God bless all that walk outside the box. To walk outside the box..Is not an easy walk. You don't understand being gay? Do you understand being anything other than you are? You, my friend are asleep. Wake up to the change. The old schoolers might be on your side, but our youth are not. Learn from them. They have much to teach us about love. Jill Godin :)