Maine reporter fights firing for anti-gay marriage note

[WillParkinson]

Maine reporter fights firing for anti-gay marriage note
By The Associated Press
12.10.2009 10:00am EST

(Waterville, Maine) A longtime Maine newspaper reporter says he was unjustly fired after writing a personal e-mail to gay marriage supporters rebuking their tactics.

The Portland Newspaper Guild has filed a grievance on behalf of 58-year-old Larry Grard, who says he was fired Nov. 10 from the Morning Sentinel in Waterville.

Grard sent an e-mail to the Human Rights Campaign the day after Maine voters repealed a law that would have allowed gay couples to wed.

Grard said he was offended that the organization claimed gay marriage opponents used hate and said it was supporters who were being hateful. A Human Rights Campaign worker who saw the e-mail complained to the paper but said he did not ask for Grard to be fired.

Grard said his lapse in judgment shouldn’t warrant dismissal.

The newspaper’s management did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

http://www.365gay.com/news/maine-reporter-fights-firing-for-anti-gay-marriage-note/

[joeybee12]

1. Doesn't say whether he sent from hom or work e-mail, says personal..

...but that doesn't really answer the question.

Does this merit firing? He's obviously a biased, biogted man...

[sui generis]

2. It most certainly warrants dismissal.

As a journalist he has a code of ethics to uphold, and responsibility to own his own opinions. Claiming some "authority" by associating himself with a newspaper before making his opinion makes the newspaper responsible for his non-editorial opinion.

And on the topic of hate. Yes we fucking hate people who are keeping us from exercising our civil rights, and they are our rights whether recognized by the government or not.

This isn't about who the bigger victim is or about who mischaracterized whom, more.

It's about fucking with our personal lives, and if Grard thinks that requires that we play nice or fair he can go fuck himself with a running chainsaw.

NEVERTHELESS, if he shows up at a food kitchen homeless or with HIV OUR people will take care of him, fairly, with compassion, and genuine care, in spite of his faults. Can he say the same?

[Toasterlad]

3. The Douchebag Complained AFTER HE WON.

He not only deserves to be fired, he deserves to be punched in the sack by every gay Mainer he pissed on.