WILMINGTON, Del. — The state Republican party chairwoman in Delaware is calling for a party leader to resign for using a derogatory term for a gay man in a Facebook post.
The Delaware News Journal reports that New Castle County Republican Party Chairman Chris Rowe will resign this weekend amid state GOP chairwoman Jane Brady’s call for him to step down from the appointed position.
However, Rowe told the newspaper that he won’t apologize for using the slur. He called it “locker room talk” with a close friend and said he isn’t homophobic.
Rowe didn't immediately respond to a voicemail message seeking comment from The Associated Press.
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In a statement Thursday, Brady also condemned a Facebook post by a different party leader that she called “offensive, hurtful and anti-Semitic.”
The newspaper reports that Sussex County Republican Party Vice-Chairwoman Nelly Jordan’s post says many Jews “in name only” are involved in fabricating a story to impeach President Donald Trump.
Brady’s statement said Jordan, because she was elected to the post, will have to decide herself whether to resign or go through a process to have her removed.
“Our party includes individuals from all different backgrounds, joined together to advance the principles we old dear. I am proud of Delaware Republicans and their support for the broad range of diversity that makes our party stronger,” Brady’s statement said.
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Jordan didn’t respond to a voicemail message left with the Sussex County GOP’s office. Don Petitmermet, chairman of the Sussex County Republican Party, said in a statement that he takes the situation “very seriously.” He said the county GOP has procedures for “evaluating the conduct of our members and holding them accountable where required.”
“In today’s hyper-political environment words are often used without much thought as to their actual meaning. That said, we can and must do better,” he said.
