Is it safe to be gay under the Big Sky?
Fuck no.
Innuendo, bullying and under-the radar criminalization of gay people just aren’t enough. Threats of violence and lynching seem to be the only way to deal with these uppity queers in Montana.
Tim Ravndal, (whose Facebook page lists the following information:
Tim Ravndal, Montana Constitutional Warriors, Montana Coordinator for the Second Amendment March, Montana Coordinator for the Tenth Amendment Center, Montana Coordinator for the National Nullification Center, Montana Tea Party Movement, Organizer
PO Box 287
Townsend Montana 59644
1-406-266-5212 or 1-439-5860
thornyacre@dishmail.net )
hosts a conversation on his Facebook page where he comments on an article by the Billings Gazette on the lawsuit by the Montana ACLU by seven same-sex couples, condones torture and hanging of “fruits” and makes explicit inference to Matthew Shepard’s murder.
Transcript:
Tim Ravndal: “Marriage is between a man and a woman period! By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the constitution and my own rights”
Kieth Baker: “How dare you exercise your First Amendment Rights?”
Dennis Scranton: “I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions.”
Tim Ravndal: “@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this aint(sic) America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?”
Dennis Scranton: Should be able to get info Gazette archives. Maybe even an illustration. Go back a bit over ten years.”
But see for yourself:
(click screencap to enlarge)
Disgusting. I found it here.
And it’s not the only public homophobic comment by a Montanan lately. This one’s running for office.
Andy Towle’s take on the story here.
And this from Left In The West.
And, finally, excellent local media coverage.
From Eternity To Here 
Inexcusable. I don’t know these other people, but next time I see Mr. Baker I will ask him how he can condone this type of hate and incitement of violence. Sickening.
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[…] If you still think the Tea Party isn’t a bunch of violent bigots…. By Cowgirl, on September 3, 2010, 11:08 am | Discuss Then you haven’t met Tim Ravndal, the leader of the Big Sky Tea Party. Here is a horrific exchange between Ravndal and a few of his colleagues, which took place on Ravndal’s Facebook page: Transcript courtesy of Greg Smith at the excellent blog From Eternity to Here: […]
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Have you noticed that if you look at Dennis Scranton’s FB information tab, he says he’s interested in both women and men? Interesting.
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great. i thought my brother was in a friendlier environment when he left the south and went out west to work in Big Sky Country. i knew about Matthew Shephard, yes. but i also knew (sadly) that could really have happened anywhere, i didn’t think there was anything particularly virulent going on in the west.
i was wrong. there apparently is some strong cultural reinforcement going on there, just as in the south. if anything, from what i’ve heard violence seems more likely. in the south, the language is more contemptuous, belittling. out west, they sound angry and like they bear some kind of grudge.
this is more than offensive. this is one more thing i have to refuse to be frightened by.
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[…] Matthew Sheppherd jokes by Montana Tea Party Republicans. Question of the day — the last panel shown from this Archie “We’ve got a Gay in Riverdale!” comic book – brush it aside? […]
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[…] Is it safe to be gay under the Big Sky? Fuck no. Innuendo, bullying and under-the radar criminalization of gay people just aren't enough. Threats of violence and lynching seem to be the only way to deal with these uppity queers in Montana. Tim Ravndal, (whose Facebook page lists the following information: Tim Ravndal, Montana Constitutional Warriors, Montana Coordinator for the Second Amendment March, Montana Coordinator for the Tenth Amendment C … Read More […]
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[…] reported by D. Gregory Smith at his blog From Eternity to Here, one read the kind of thinking that the leader of the Big Sky Tea […]
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Great post. Thanks for sharing this information. As alarming as it is, the more people that know about this, the better.
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[…] political leadership has been strangely silent on the subject of the recently discovered homophobic/murderous rants by a leader and members of the Montana Tea […]
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[…] this gentleman has turned a shovel into the underbelly of conservative politics in montana today and unearthed some online murderous thoughts and homophobic rants which reveal much about the character of some of the leaders of the republican party and the tea party movement in montana. it has our attention because it reveals the violent and murderous character of montana’s ultra right wing leaders of the montana tea party movement. […]
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I forgot that freedom only applies to straight people, silly me. Excuse me while I go vomit.
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How can you think that ‘gay’ lifestyle is a ‘safe’ thing anywhere – HIV+!? I lost my beloved little bro to HIV and the gay lifestyle – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=fl_1013554137527#!/profile.php?id=1593713600
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First, safety is hard to gauge, but I know when I feel truly unsafe, not just morally offended- so do you.
Second, there is no gay lifestyle. Every human being I know has their own lifestyle. Your brother’s lifestyle and mine, even though we are both gay, could hardly be compared. Neither could anyone else’s.
Third, HIV is not only infecting gay men- it is infecting persons from all walks of life, straight, gay, married, single, parents, children. Straight men and women are spreading chlamydia and gonorrhea and syphilis all over the place, and you never hear any objections from straight people. Irresponsible, don’t you think?
Fourth, I am sorry about your brother, but I’m sure your love for him transcended all these labels you are throwing around. Thanks for caring enough to respond.
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how do you tap into the…whatever it is you’re tapping into…to reply like THAT? i just can’t get past my mother telling me she was praying every night that if my brother was really gay he’d die. that’s EVIL. i’m having a hard time meeting evil halfway and feeling clean.
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Huh?
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[…] 3:15 pm | Discuss The Teabaggers/GOP candidates and supporters in Montana portray themselves as violent lunatics, and they have even declared war. Now, in another nice piece of reporting by the Helena IR, it […]
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[…] elected Republican in the State of Montana, through a spokesman, admitted he hadn’t seen the posting that outed Tim Ravndal as a homophobic and possibly violent bigot. But- and this is very important, […]
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its sad… to read these comments.still in the 50’s i guess.a lot of hate up there.
you people are pretty brave
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Yep- we are that…. Thanks for your support! And excellent story today, btw…
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i guess we have are own taliban over here
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So I hear they fired ole Tim but that didn’t go over so well with some of the board who then resigned.
I want an America where everyone has equal rights under the law. It’s still the American dream and I’m betting that our dream of true equality, true liberty and justice for ALL will be the dream we will work for. Not the dark nightmare of hate and violence, division and scapegoating. This is the true American treasure, and the vision of the Green Party!
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[…] was the first blogger to break the news of the hateful dialog in which Montana Tea Party president Tim Ravndal was caught. In short, he appeared to advocate the torture/lynching of gay people, conjuring up the disturbing […]
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[…] the man who wanted the “Wyoming instruction manual” on how to hang fruits is in charge of the Lewis & Clark Tea Party. The man who openly espoused the murder of other […]
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[…] the man who advocated violence against gay people (fruits) is now promoting a Freedom Action Rally with a call to arms on the steps of the Montana […]
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[…] I thought she was a drag queen too- but this is serious), she who was “pleased” that advocate of gay murder, Tim Ravndal, was put in charge of the Lewis And Clark Conservative Tea Party, is now running for the Helena […]
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