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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

Assistant AG sparks controversy with anti-gay tirades

By Ed Brayton | 10.01.10 | 8:00 am

Andrew Shirvell, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, is attracting national attention for a blog he started and still maintains where he launches vicious attacks on Chris Armstrong, the president of the University of Michigan student assembly, for being gay.

Shirvell calls Armstrong a “radical homosexual activist,” but he appears to call anyone who is gay, even gay conservatives, by that title. Among other things, he’s put up pictures of Armstrong with a swastika photoshopped on to his face. And in an appearance on CNN the other day, he was completely unapologetic:

Attorney General Mike Cox has reprimanded Shirvell in a letter but has taken no action other than that. Cox also spoke to Anderson Cooper on CNN and explained why he has not fired Shirvell:

Cox is likely correct about the legal issues; were he to fire Shirvell the state would almost certainly get sued and would likely lose on First Amendment grounds. But Cox is being less than forthcoming when he describes Shirvell merely as a “front line grunt” in his office. Shirvell in fact helped run Cox’s campaign for AG, so the two are close political allies.

In another development, the University of Michigan banned Shirvell from campus and Armstrong filed for a personal protection order from him. Shirvell is appealing that order.

Since the controversy took off, Shirvell has made his blog private and password-protected.

Comments

  • Deirdre9055

    Cyber Bullying? Conduct Unbecoming? I would note be silent if I was a citizen of Michigan.

  • Deirdre9055

    From one Christian to another; NOT very Christian of you Mr. Shirvell!

    • Michael_Heath

      Actually the only people I know who publically advocate ostracizing gay people are Christians, besides a handful of white secular separatists (most separatists are Christians). These Christians also use the Bible to justify their bigotry and hatred towards gays. These Christians happen to also be political conservatives so it's not like all Christians possess this form of bigotry; but conservative Christians are certainly the dominant hater of gays while also providing the ammunition to justify bigotry by all those who fight to deny gays their rights.

      Whenever you get a group who enjoys power in the public square going after “the other” like conservative Christians have done now against gays for many years, you'll see some of their flock take it to an extreme unacceptable even to the majority of that group (as we see here). Extreme not necessarily because they completely disagree with the extremism, but instead because it reveals some of the prejudices that cause the entire group to seek to ostracize the 'other' group where such exposure is politically imprudent.

      • Corvus_illustris

        By the way, Shirvell's law degree comes from Ave Monaghan–er, excuse me, Maria–University's law school. AMU is the R.C. version of Falwell's Liberty U. and Pat Robertson's Regent U., and is not very highly rated. There are a number of highly rated law schools available in Michigan, but Cox had to hire a guy with these credentials for this allegedly civil-service job. Makes ya wonder …

  • alan1976

    This is bad PR for the state of Michigan. Millions of dollars worth of bad press.

  • Jakeh

    Just prosecute the guy for stalking, harassment, cyber bullying, defamation of character, etc. and can him when something sticks.

  • JB9612

    Andrew Shirvell by not only words but actions tantamount to stalking should join the ranks of the 14% unemployed in Michigan. He represents the continued Talibanization of American – right wing fundamentalists haters. The same type of folks as Time McVeigh and Terry Nichols, the Ku Klux Klan, Arayan Nation and others. So many of his fellow haters have moved from vicious use of the first amendment to a exercise of the second amendment. Time for Mr Cox to wake up and show mr Shirvell the color of his boot while he kicks him to the curb!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LIQMWK5GM6FQSTSGLDBQ2YARGI Josh S

    Shirvell has since taken a “voluntary” leave of absence. This action of both Cox and Shirvell does not surprise me in the least. Cox was one of the few state AG's around the United States to come out in support of California's Prop. 8. One of Cox's few endorsements for his ill fated gubernatorial campaign was that of Focus on the Family, a far right wing fundamentalist group. Cox will continue to support his bigoted buddy until he is finally kicked out of office at the end of the year.

    • Michael_Heath

      Focus on the Family is certainly a far right-wing fundamentalist group as you describe, but they are also a major power broker in the Republican party. George W. Bush used to regularly call their leader James Dobson on Monday mornings when he was President; Mr. Dobson was also a major reason Bush's SCOTUS nominee Harriet Meiers was removed from consideration and replaced by Samuel Alito.

  • toka248

    Ed does a very good job of reporting that Shirvell thinks all gays are radicals. He is incorrect though, in asserting that the state would lose a lawsuit if they fired him. Couple of reasons why:

    First: At-will employment in Michigan. Fire him and don't give a reason. (Ok, his position isn't at-will, but still, makin a point about us workin stiffs who are.)

    Second: He has created a situation through media outlets that would make performing his job effectively far more difficult. If he happens to represent an LGBTQQIA client and loses, then there would be questions and possibly lawsuits claiming that he did not defend the client to the best of their ability.

    Third: There have been numerous cases where if you are in certain high-profile positions, the standards change.

    Ed, thanks for the story, keep up the good work. I'm certain though there are ways to get rid of this guy. Even if it's the old “make it so unpleasant to work there that he'll quit” angle that works so well in restaurants..lol..

  • GayCowboy

    YAYAYAYAYAYAY !!!!!!!! I AM SO VERY GLAD THAT CHRIS ARMSTRONG IS NOW SUING THAT PREJUDICE THUG. THESE “SO-CALLED christian FRUCKS” ARE FINALLY BEING FORCED TO TAKE THEIR PLACE AT THE BACK OF THE BUS !!!!! LOLOLOL !!!! I HOPE HE FILES CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST THAT christian SLOTH FOR ABUSING MR.ARMSTRONGS CIVIL RIGHTS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANDREW SHIRVELL BEHIND BARS WHEN ALL THIS IS OVER !!!!

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