Life

Apologies offered after online threat against North Carolina Pride event

Apologies offered after online threat against North Carolina Pride event
Two men and a woman who made antigay comments on a Facebook post offered apologies Tuesday night for implied threats against a North Carolina Pride festival, but then doubled down on their opposition to gay and transgender people.

The post was removed by Facebook, but screenshots that were published by QNotes and the News-Herald show that the homophobic remarks began with a post of a YouTube video about the first-ever Pride event in Morganton, N.C. Organizers say more than 400 people attended.

Scott Bumgarner, Sr. commented, “Faggot fest going on in Morganton today.” Kenny Aytes responded, “Target practice,” to which Bumgarner replied “Yes sir,” and later, “they need to go back to the closet.”

Facebook3

Bumgarner later warned his friends, “Lets watch what we post on Facebook.”

Sheriff Steve Whisenant told the News-Herald that although he was not personally aware of the Facebook thread, the District Attorney’s Office would need to determine the legal ramifications for the post.

There was indeed violence at the event, according to Seth Loven, president of LGBT Burke. Loven told QNotes a protester hit his car with a sign, some children threw sticks at eventgoers, and a thief stole a sign from his car. Loven also reported he found a frightening note on his car, which read: “You die.”

“I don’t condone what went on Saturday,” Bumgarner told the News-Herald late Tuesday. “But I don’t believe in violence one single bit. If I ever met Mr. Loven, I’d tell him that I don’t agree with what he does, but I’d pray for him. God loves him and so do I.”

He was asked if the Facebook post could be viewed as a threat, given what happened at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. this past June.

“When the Orlando shooting took place, I wept,” Bumgarner told the paper. “Nobody has the right to take someone’s life. I like to think those 49 people didn’t die instantly. I hope they had time to get right with God.”

Both Bumgarner and Alice Smith expressed regrets for their online comments. “I do apologize for the things that was put in there,” he said.

“I don’t believe in violence,” she said. “It’s wrong and not right. It’s their choice all we can do as Christians is to pray for them.”

And although Aytes also offered an apology, he wanted his opposition to the Pride event to be made clear.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not gonna bow down to it either,” Aytes told the News-Herald, adding that he felt he could not freely express his views. He claimed his Facebook comment, “Target practice,” was taken out of context.

“I just casually responded to a post on my friend’s page,” Aytes told the paper. “We’re both members of the NRA. Maybe I meant we was going to go to target practice at his house.”

The newspaper also asked Aytes what he thought of the Orlando massacre, given his stance.

“That was Orlando,” he said. “This is North Carolina. I have to worry about somebody being in the bathroom with my wife or my grandkids. And I have the right to defend against that.”

North Carolina’s House Bill 2 law — restricting transgender people from using public bathrooms except those matching their birth certificate — remains the subject of pending lawsuits.

Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Trans man chestfeeds his baby in pages of two mainstream magazines

Previous article

New study: Hollywood still loves straight white men who keep their clothes on

Next article