October 7th, 2010
11:27 AM ET

N.C. Republican calls gays 'fruitloops' in e-mail

Rep. Larry Brown is in hot water over a "fruitloops" e-mail.

A gay rights group is asking people to flood a North Carolina state representative's office with cereal after the Republican referred to gays as "queers" and "fruitloops" in an e-mail to other lawmakers.

Rep. Larry Brown, a Republican, was replying to an e-mail that state House Minority Leader Paul Stam sent to members of his caucus. That message, dated September 27, discussed Democratic House Speaker Joe Hackney receiving an award from Equality NC, according to Hackney spokesman Bill Holmes.

The e-mail string, which Holmes provided to CNN, had about 60 recipients. Brown's response consisted of two sentences: "I hope all the queers are thrilled to see him [Hackney]. I'm sure there will be a couple of legislative fruitloops there in the audience."

Messages left at Brown's legislative office were not returned Thursday morning. The cell number listed on his official state page is not working, and a message sent to Brown's e-mail address was not returned.

Brown is running unopposed for re-election this year.

The e-mail was made public recently when Equality NC Executive Director Ian Palmquist received a copy of it. "I was pretty shocked to see a legislator using that language," Palmquist said.

"Rep. Brown needs to apologize, but we haven't received any contact from him, not a word. It's offensive, but I really don't think he reflects what most North Carolinians think about gay people."

Stam told News 14 North Carolina that Brown's language was inappropriate but that he was not "the speech police."

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Filed under: North Carolina
soundoff (615 Responses)
  1. dave

    i wonder if anyone would be outraged if a christian was called a fruitloop?

    October 12, 2010 at 12:16 am | Report abuse |
    • Light of Truth

      Are you saying that "Christians" should be called out as "fruitloops"? Your right but people should try to be civil.

      October 15, 2010 at 4:32 am | Report abuse |
  2. Bengus81

    As this guy supposedly has the brains to be a Representative?? Apologize and then resign.

    October 12, 2010 at 8:14 am | Report abuse |
  3. Gesa

    What a bunch of swamp gas!

    October 12, 2010 at 3:11 pm | Report abuse |
  4. blf83

    He will eventually end up in the company of Libby Dole – UNEMPLOYED and STILL DUMB!

    October 12, 2010 at 4:02 pm | Report abuse |
  5. ArK

    I like fruitloops! 🙂 On a more serious note, why do we continue to bash gay people? Aren't they taking over anyway?

    October 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Mike Palevo

    If it walks like a Duck, and quacks like a Duck, and smells like a Duck, then it's a Duck!

    October 13, 2010 at 12:04 am | Report abuse |
  7. 2+2=5

    You know your bad when you make up definitions for these guys.

    October 13, 2010 at 4:17 am | Report abuse |
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