First, it was the disturbingly homophobic fliers accusing Gainesville mayoral candidate Craig Lowe of being “responsible for legally allowing men in women’s restrooms.”
Then it was the shockingly hateful rant video from local fundamentalist fear-mongers, the Dove World Outreach Center, in which the church’s second-in-command delivered verbal blows like “homo” and “fag.”
We’re wondering what’s next in the line of attacks against someone who could be our city’s new mayor, and we’re sick of it.
Gainesville has a reputation not only for being LGBT friendly, but as a generally welcoming place — where else could you get away with jorts around educated people? But these attacks are making us sick to our stomachs and ashamed to live in Gainesville.
As you know from our endorsement, we support Lowe. We respect what he’s done for the city during his time as a Gainesville commissioner, and we appreciate his work with the equal opportunity council. But this isn’t about politics, and it’s not about Lowe as a candidate.
It’s about decency, something this election season’s attackers would do well to learn something about. Their statements surpass ignorance and venture into idiocy.
Their word choices surpass insensitive and fly into cruelty. It tarnishes Gainesville’s reputation as a welcoming place and makes us all look like bigots. The hate campaign has to stop, and those who perpetuate it should be deeply ashamed.
