TENNESSEE: Housing Official Says Gays Are Like Murderers and Drug Dealers

In January, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) invited public comment on proposed new rules banning discrimination against LGBT people in all its programs. That prompted Vicki Barnes, the executive director of Tennessee’s Sweetwater Housing Authority to fire off a letter to HUD in which she compares gay people to murderers, cult members, prostitutes and drug dealers. According to Barnes, if HUD’s proposed rules are adopted, landlords will opt out of Section 8 programs rather than “be bullied into accepting tenants who have chosen a lifestyle that goes against their moral convictions.” Screen shots of Barnes’ detestable letter are below.I’ve posted Barnes’ full letter to my Scribd account. I believe we’ll have a little project here, come Monday.

(Tipped by JMG reader James)