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WASHINGTON — A gunman posing as an intern opened fire at the headquarters of the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning after reportedly announcing his disagreement with the conservative group’s policies.
Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Officer Araz Alali confirmed to LGBTQ Nation that one security guard, an adult male, was shot in the arm at about 10:50 a.m. in the building’s lobby at 801 G St., N.W., and was conscious and breathing after the shooting.
The guard, Leo Johnson, suffered a non-life-threatening wound, and was transported to a local hospital.
The gunman has been identified as 28-year-old Floyd Corkins II from nearby Herndon, Va., and was taken into custody shortly after the shooting.
According to an FBI source, the Corkins approached the front desk and said he was an intern before pulling a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun from a backpack. He then expressed disagreement with the conservative group’s policy positions as he produced the weapon.
Johnson confronted the suspect, and they had an altercation before Corkins fired, striking Johnson in the arm. Despite his injury, the Johnson gained control of the weapon and held it on Corkins.
Authorities found two loaded magazines with 15 rounds each in Corkins’ backpack, as well as Chik-fil-A promotional materials.
“The security guard here is a hero, as far as I’m concerned,” D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said. ”He did his job. The person never made it past the front. The security guard here is a hero, as far as I’m concerned.”
Darin Miller, a spokesman for the Family Research Council, said Johnson works for the FRC, and not for a private security agency.
Corkins had been a volunteer at the DC Center for the LGBT Community for the past six months. David Mariner, Executive Director of the center, described Corkins as “kind, gentle and unassuming.”
Police and the FBI said they have not yet made an official announcement related to Corkins’ motive for the shooting.
“We don’t know enough about him or his circumstances to determine what his connection is to this group or his mental state or what he was doing or thinking of doing,” said James McJunkin, Director of the FBI Field Office in Washington.
The FBI has joined in the investigation due to the possibility that the incident could be classified as a federal crime — a source to LGBTQ Nation said the FBI could be investigate the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism.
FRC President Tony Perkins released a brief statement, “The police are investigating this incident. Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today. Our concern is for him and his family.”
The Family Research Council bills itself as “the leading voice for the family in our nation’s halls of power,” but, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has designated the organization a “hate group,” its real specialty “is defaming gays and lesbians.”
“The FRC often makes false claims about the LGBT community based on discredited research and junk science. The intention is to denigrate LGBT people in its battles against same-sex marriage, hate crimes laws, anti-bullying programs and the repeal of the military’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy, according to the SPLC.
The National Organization for Marriage was quick to point blame for the incident at the SPLC:
“Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as ‘hateful’ must end,” said Brian Brown, President of NOM. “The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the Family Research Council a ‘hate group’ for its pro-marriage views, and less than a day ago the Human Rights Campaign issued a statement calling FRC a ‘hate group’ — they even specified that FRC hosts events in Washington, DC, where today’s attack took place.”
“For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as ‘hateful’ and ‘bigoted’ — such harmful and dangerous labels deserve no place in our civil society and NOM renews its call today for gay rights groups and the Southern Poverty Law Center to withdraw such incendiary rhetoric from a debate that involves millions of good Americans,” added Brown.
“There are unconfirmed reports that the shooting was ideologically motivated. We condemn all acts of violence and are following the story closely,” the SPLC said, in a brief statement.
Other LGBT advocacy groups also weighed in:
“This is an awful tragedy and our thoughts and hearts go out to the victim, his family, and his colleagues at the Family Research Council,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out, in a statement.
“In America we settle political differences through robust debate in the public square, not with violence. If the shooting is found to be politically motivated, it is a detestable act of cruelty and cowardice and the perpetrator should be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Besen.
“Though we rarely see eye to eye, we absolutely condemn the violence that occurred today,” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director.
“Keeping in mind that at this time we know little about the shooter or his motives, whatever our political disagreements, in this country, we use ballots, not bullets, to address them. We offer prayers for the injured security guard, his family, and everybody at the FRC building,” added Cooper.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his family,” said Micheal Keegan, President of People for the American Way, which operates the “Right Wing Watch” website.
“We wish nothing but safety and security for the staff and supporters of the Family Research Council in the wake of this senseless act of violence,” said Jerame Davis, Executive Director of National Stonewall Democrats.
“Regardless of our strong and vehement disagreement with the organization and the politics for which they stand, violence is never an appropriate reaction and should be condemned,” said Davis.
On Wednesday afternoon, more than two dozen national and regional LGBT advocacy organizations released a joint statement denouncing the shooting.
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LGBTQ TALENT <3 <3 <3 BREAKING BARRIERS. GOING MAINSTREAM!!! http://tweetmysong.com/mb3y1l5
i cant say im shocked at all alot of people do not like them and they are labeled a hate group
and that’s why I DO NOT SPEND a penny at CARLS JR….Carl Archer funds these creeps.
4th Shooting in a month….Gun Control??? WTF needs it?
A sad event as this is not the way to start change, take down the hateful groups, or prove them wrong. It just gives them more ammo.
What next?!
OMG NO, NO, NO, NO WHY WOULD SOMEONE DO THAT!!!!! Why would anyone think that would be a good thing, Jesus Christ, THIS IS WHY I HATE RADICALS OF ANYTHING!!!!
Hate group or not, violence does nothing good at all. If anything, this will bring more violence.
We’re a movement (Gay Rights) marked by peace and respectful discourse, but when you start threatening to kidnap our children, you should have seen a more violent response around the corner. Not condoning what this man did by any means, but I do understand why he did it – at least in part.
My heart goes out to the man that was hurt and his family. Violence is not the right response. Incidents like this harm the cause more than help it. Can’t wait for the “evil gay agenda” spin to start.
very sad :(
To me it sounds like the acidic vitriol that Family Research spit out agitated someone to a boiling point. I don’t even know who it was. Could’ve been from anyone, from a fed-up supporter of gay rights, to a stray bullet from a gang assault, to a simple mistaken-identity wrong-target shooting.
What a cowardly and disgusting act. The man hurt was a security guard, getting a salary. Not a person condoning kidnapping or death. Despicable and a step backwards.
No matter how many crazy bastards going about killing we must preserve the 2d amendment
Bummer none of the FRC’s died: since they support the death penalty for homosexuals.
Come on, let’s not stoop to the homophobic agenda’s level of ignorance. We’re fighting fire with fire! I bet FRC automatically assumed it was a LGBT person that committed this crime.
Let’s not start with the rampant speculation. Let the facts trickle out.
I will say this to start facts or not facts ( and I agree 110% with Michael C. Hall ) it is a very sad day all around. Folks we MUST live as one !!!!
Radical and extrimists of any kinda are dangerous. Things like this doesn’t help, it only leads to more violence!
Again craig, Gun control wont do squat….Look at Chicago…STRICT LAWS…..2-3+ shootings every day
Make’s me glad I wasn’t working as a guard – don’t know what’s worse – this or being trampled to death at Walmart.
You know the FRC will blame the gay community for this. Well now the FRC are really going to have fuel for their fire to burn gays or the gay agenda. This going to have everyone from Pat Roberts to local preachers saying “..gays are out for blood and possessed by Satan.” This will not help our cause (the LGBT}.
Yes, clearly – the first thing we should do, NOM, is assign blame, because that’s always very helpful.
My thoughts to the family of the security guard, even if he recovers this should never have happened.
haha i knew NOM would say something like that
B-but they are a hate group…
I guess their actions dont speak for themselves? please hate group for sure!
my brain hurts……
I dont like them but this is not how to stop them. It builds sympathy for them
I agree that we should not stoop to violence, and of course we don’t know why he did this, but where do we draw the line? Threatening to put us in camps, starve us, fire us, keep us from our loved ones, steal our children? I don’t know, but this sounds like the beginning of what some might call a revolution. American’s aren’t all that lazy! Do they want a real revolt? Scary.
FRC is a hate group.
Oh, no! Are they living in fear now of being attacked and killed because of who they are? Or how they are choosing to be? My friends were born gay. FRC chooses to be bigoted and spreading of lies and hatred. What the score now, on dead & scarred LGBT vs Christians Who Hate The Gays? And did that Michael Wade Page White Straight Power guy get labeled domestic terrorist when he shot those Sikhs in Wisconsin? WTF?
this is sad. when will they get that there are too many of us “gays.” they cant kill us all off!! if everyone just minded their own business then we would all be okay. But everyone is always more concerned with what goes on in other peoples households. people hate people period. no one gets that. yes certain groups are targeted before others or worse than others but when it comes down to it people are against people.. they hate on eachother because of looks, religion, what food they eat, what clothes they wear, what foot they stepped out of the car with. im over it. until we as humans and accept everyone as humans.. theres no hope!
This is awful, but yes, I’ll agree: FRC is a hate group.
Blame the SPLC??? Did they give this individual the gun and ammo to do it with? No. This was the work of one individual, not the SPLC. So, I agree it is aweful. But I had a feeling in my gut this was a long time comming.
Who gives a fuck about their views. when a guy goes into a place of work with the intent of killing a bunch of unarmed, (relatively) innocent people, nothing can excuse him. I don’t care what their opinion is on my sexuality, no one deserves to die for that.
They advocate and encourage an atmosphere of hate and are all shocked and surprised when it gets delivered to their door.
Obviously he confused the guard for tony Perkins or someone important, sorry for the guard who just got in the way…
But they ARE a hate group.
They are a hate group. Not deserving of violence certainly, but most definitely a hate group.
About damned time that we shot back in the Culture War.
non-violence has gotten us so far. It’s a Culture War you spineless pussies. Fight it or get buried.
This isn’t the way we should fight for equal rights….. Even though the FRC is quite shocking and very anti-LGBT.
They are a hate group.
Lawd, I live in DC and hadn’t heard anything about this.
Is he crazy? Does he have mental issues?
NOM is the biggest group of idiots to ever walk the face of the earth. I’m not surprised they would come out and say something like this.
Violence is not the answer. Education and personal relationships are.
This does not help the lgbt movement. I’ve said it before and I will say again. You can’t fight hate with hate. We are arguing that we should be allowed to love whoever we want but in this case he used hate to prove it. That is ridiculous.
All and any anti, hate group or the like along with the funding (ers) must come to a an end. It’s terrorism within our country and loved one’s in which no tolerence should be given.
Tim, I honestly believe, that someone who has enough in them to actually take a gun and shoot it at people in cold blood, has some sort of mental issue.
Because they are!!!
“NOM”, “American Family Association” and similar groups’ names should always be written in quotation marks because their titles misrepresent them. These are ordinary anti-gay hate groups that have nothing to do with defending marriage or family. If I start calling myself Jesus Christ would people call me by that name without putting it in quotes?
They may have reached their “breaking point” we all have one.
Those people are idiots & don’t have an ounce of credibility! But now we’re gonna here the “victim” card being played. I can her it now, Christian group target if terrorist cell! This isn’t the way we make points on the left. Right Wing hate groups are the only idiots that show up shooting people in moments of rage & idiocy! No one should stoop to that level! There place in history is already set. They will have to explain to there grandchildren how they wore they’re hatred on there sleeves & showed no tolerance towards anything or anyone they did not understand. There position is one of ignorance & simple minded stupidity. This is one fight we are sure to win, although it may be our next generation that reaps the benefits of the victory…
Probably a right wing republican plan to take down the GLBT community
Finally, someone gives those FRC nutjobs a taste of their own medicine. I have absolutely no sympathy. Sorry I’m not sorry.
What is frc?
Great. What a fucking asshole.
This certainly isn’t the way to get our message out, it makes us as bad as them………..its a sad day for our cause
Seriously Jack? Our community is so much better than that sentiment.
What a set back for our community. Despite my disdain for such organizations hate and violence are not the solution.
Crap!!! No we look like the fucking crazies because you know the right wing is gonna run with this. My theory is he infiltrated!!!
I agree with Robert!! I think this dude infiltrated!!
This is JUST what we need right now. Some lunatic that will make people say, “See? All those gays and lesbians are crazies. They need Jesus!”
Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
I have never seen such an underdeveloped FB page for any activist. Check out Floyd Jackie Corkins!
I have never seen such an underdeveloped FB page for any activist. Check out Floyd Jackie Corkins!
We do not defeat our enemies by becoming like them. He did us no favor, and in fact did immeasurable harm, by pulling such an asinine stunt. Thankfully, nobody was killed or even seriously injured. Such acts are never really on “behalf” of any cause, but for the ego and self-glory of the sick mind bent on perpetrating it. He is no brother of mine.
I do not condone what was done, however you will never hear the FRC or any of the other organizations take responsibility for the countless LGBTQ teenagers who have committed suicide. There hateful ways just reinforce that it is ok to bully, harrass, or even murder LGBTQ persons. I hope the gentleman who was hurt has a quick recovery. As was stated previously there is no place for violence in our struggle.
Focus on the family is not above such tactics. However, we must not allow such things to be left for others to condemn their actions. Someone in these organizations within our own community needs to speak out against such violence.
Our community will get blamed for this. He has put all of us in danger of retaliation. Our community is better than violence, I agree Kyle.
http://lgbtequality2012.blogspot.com/2012/08/shooting-at-frc-whats-this-world-coming.html
Actually, you defeat your enemies by bashing back, not by signing online petitions. I say good for them, and shame on those condemning their actions.
Let the Sex Wars Begin!
You are thinking that Syria has problems?
Gun shops will be very busy tomorrow and for the rest of the week.
Also, this only opens us up for attacks if we are willing to take it.
As a member of the4 LGBT community we must condemn this and any attack like it. This man doers not represent me
@Tal’n Frost – There has already been a number of LGBTQ organizations that have publicly stated their/our condemnation of this violence. We have been vocal about it, and I am sure will continue to do so.
@Alan excellent. Most of the news media have not covered any statements made condemning this situation. Thanks for the update
All fights for equality are scarred by a few out of control people. We have to pray for the victims and send out the same message as Ghandi and Dr King did. Non- violence and persistence will bring the desired effect because we have truth and justice on our side. Remember the fight is for us and the generations to come. Any outbursts like this only hurt our cause. We must stay the course and have patients for the sake of humanity and our children.
why do people “like” a comment like this?
So how come gay kids get murdered on a monthly basis by random age group-straight people/kids, and nothing happens, but one gay man shoots a guy in the arm and the gay community is labeled as domestic terrorists. Man. I love America. We’re a country of freedom and equality you know.
Will all you pussies move aside so that LGBT people who WANT FREEDOM can fight for it without you cry babies harping about love and non violence?
I think what is tragic is that all the LGBT organizations are falling over each other to denounce this attack. How many LGBT people have to die at the hands of bigots before we fight back. Nothing will happen unless WE MAKE IT HAPPEN and i’m sorry but your fooling yourself if you ever think that negotiating and all that other bullshit is going to make a damn bit of difference.. These bigots know only know thing, the power at the end of a gun. It’s about time they suffer the same violence they make us LGBT people suffer. I will NEVER shed a tear when a bigot gets shot.
We LGBT people will NEVER know TRUE FREEDOM until we FREE OURSELVES from their tyranny. It took violence to get our freedom from England in the revolutionary war, It took violence to get freedom for African Americans in the civil war. Weather you like it or not IT WILL TAKE VIOLENCE to achieve our freedom.
You little cry baby pacifists can sit and suffer under these religious bigots oppression and continue to cry about them not giving you freedom, liberty and equality. I FIGHT for MY FREEDOM. Don’t worry I won’t bother to share my freedom with you because you deserve to live as an oppressed minority because you’re too cowardly to FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM!
If fighting for my freedom makes me a terrorist, SO BE IT! I’d rather be a “terrorist” than allow myself and those I love to be oppressed and denied their equal civil rights by christian conservative bigots.
Ghandi and MLK were pretty cool, but I’m a bigger fan of Malcolm X and Huey P.
Travis you sound like an idiot…
John Robledo and you sound like a pussy. Why don’t you go sit and cry about how bad this freedom fighter is and then go back to begging the conservative christian bigots for your freedom. Stand aside and let those willing to get our hands dirty TRULY FIGHTING for our rights. You’re cowards and you deserve the oppression you receive. You all are delusional if you think you’re going to be able to convince the christian bigots to just give you your rights.
True equality does not come by force, the only thing it does it cause resentment, and hatred. I have no idea what your talking about when preach about “freedom”. I am free! I could be open with who I am without be persecuted. our freedom was given to us along time ago in the 60s after the Stonewall riots and are march to Washington.
Wait, you said equality doesn’t come from force, but then said our freedom was given to us by an act of force… What’s the deal?
A March is not force. If you speaking about the stone wall riots well what happened was that bystanders who saw police brutality came to our aid. It was the public who came to help us.
despite the homophopia of that era.
These assholes now will use every ounce of their energy to backlash against our community because of a gunman’s frustration. EVIL!!!
Can we give Jack, Chad and Travis back to the straight community?
What the hell Travis? Do you know the famous strategy from Ghandi at all? It worked and dawmit will work again! Keep thoughts like that to yourself. Trust me, all these religious and anti-hate groups will use every ounce of their energy to backlash against our community because of something like this.
Travis, what your saying sounds to all of us that you must punch or execute your anger at an object like a pillow or a wall. C’mon!
Zach, it’s one of the reasons why I’m seriously considering moving to Canada or Australia. 5 decades of bullshit is wearing me down, LOL!
I’m fine in the queer community, jay. Have you gay community. I don’t want it. And John, the riots at Stonewall were set off by a drag queen who threw a brick at a cop car. Get your facts right. It was a queer insurrection, not a gay pride parade.
“Returning violence for violence only adds darkness to a night already devoid of stars.”–Dr. King “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.–Gandhi Sadly, I’m not surprised that it was a gay man who did this. It was only a matter of time. But Manuel is right. The Righty-tighties will raise millions of dollars when they put this in a mailer to their sheeple. and to add insult to injury, the Southern Poverty Law Center will scold the dim-wit. If they decide to sue him, the ACLU will probably volunteer to defend FRC’s speech rights just to piss them off.
All you people are haters..now it’s all gonna come out! You and your gay black leader and your black panther friends…all haters!
I’m suspicious of Floyd Corkins ties to the LGBT community! Why isn’t the media talking to the friends and family of this guy? I want to know more than his recent volunteering at the DC center. Why is Flyod not on facebook or have any web history of LGBT activism? Take this incident with a grain of salt until we get more facts about this guy.
Do these KKKristian Kult members think that their actions have no recourse….. We are tired of being positioned as 2nd class citizens. Some people are more tired than others apparently. GO OBAMA!
Fuck Obama! He can’t help is, nor does he want to. We need total freedom, not assimilation.
I came to this page after reading that the person was a volunteer for the LGBT centers, and the majority of your comments sicken me. You actually APPLAUD that a man and almost killed someone? I don’t give a crap what your orientation is, you should be 100% ashamed of yourselves
Why doesnt HRC just write a nice letter to FRC asking them, politely mind you, not to take our civil rights away? Has anyone ever thought of that? If MLK had written a nice note to those folks over at the KKK, I’m sure he could of avoided the whole messy civil rights thingys. All you have to do is ask “nicely” not to be oppressed, bullys understand.