City council apologises after member told gay man he would ‘spit on his grave’
A city council has apologised after one of its members told a gay man that he would “spit on his grave” after he “dies of AIDS”.
The apology came from the city council of Echo, Oregon, after Councillor Lou Nakapalau made the comments online.
He got into an argument with filmmaker Joe Wilson, an out gay documentary maker.
Nakapalau wrote: “When you croak of AIDS (Anally Injected Death Serum) I’ll spit on your grave.”
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The post was deleted by the Councilmember after a controversy ensued.
He also edited other posts to remove profanities.
Nakapalau also apologised individually, but the City Council took a vote and decided to apologise also.
“The Echo City Council would like to extend its sincerest apology to those who were offended by comments made by a council member in a Facebook dialogue reported by the East Oregonian,” a statement from the council reads.
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“Comments of individual council members on their personal social media accounts do not have any endorsement or approval of the council as a whole nor do they represent city policy.”
The statement went on to say that the council condemns any statement discriminating against a person because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Or any statement which is “in any sense prejudicial or biased toward a class or group of people.”
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Council member Robert Harris proposed the apology.
“I think that’s the absolute least we can do,” Harris said.
Napakalau voted with the council to issue the apology.
The statement was read out at a council meeting attended by Nakapalau who sat in silence.
Constituents turned up to voice their disgrace.
“I’m absolutely disgusted and think any self-respecting council would throw him off,” said one, Jenny Sullivan.
