Same-Sex Marriage Opponent Confronted After California GOP Convention: Complaint
BURLINGAME, Calif.—Disagreement over same-sex marriage sparked a profanity-laced confrontation on a shuttle bus after the California GOP Spring Coaching, based on a grievance filed by Pastor Gary Cass with the San Diego GOP.
Mr. Cass’s grievance alleges that when he sat down on the bus on Might 19, a person who was at the moment unfamiliar to him, started cursing and “profanely berating me as a ‘[expletive] bigot’ and threatened that ‘I might by no means be a delegate to the get together once more.’”
In line with the letter, that man turned out to be Jordan Gascon, outgoing government director of the San Diego County GOP.
A delegate to the conference, Mr. Cass asserted within the letter that Mr. Gascon had declared that people with same-sex attraction “management the San Diego and Orange County Republican Events.’”
Shaun Frederickson, one other delegate, corroborated Mr. Cass’s account to The Epoch Occasions. Mr. Frederickson offered a picture and video clips displaying Mr. Gascon berating Mr. Cass, who’s off digicam.
“Gary was type of on the defens[ive],” Mr. Frederickson recalled.
The Epoch Occasions reached out over LinkedIn to the girl who seems to be depicted within the footage captured by Mr. Frederickson. She didn’t reply to a message there.
Mr. Gascon’s alleged feedback got here after Mr. Cass spoke out in opposition to Meeting Constitutional Modification 5, higher referred to as ACA 5.
ACA 5, which might be on Californians’ ballots in November, would strip language added to the state structure in 2008 by way of Proposition 8. That measure outlined marriage in California as being “between a person and a lady.”
Though the Supreme Court docket mandated recognition of same-sex marriage in 2015’s Obergefell v. Hodges, its more and more conservative complexion has led some to consider the regulation may change.
“Subsequent fall, Californians will reject the assault on LGBTQ rights that bigoted, ideological justices have launched from the Supreme Court docket,” California State Sen. Scott Wiener (D) mentioned after his chamber superior the measure in a 31–0 vote final yr.
These 31 yea votes included one Republican, State Sen. Scott Wilk. All seven of the closely Democrat-controlled chamber’s different Republicans didn’t vote nay. As a substitute, they have been merely absent.
The vote on the state GOP conference on Might 19 was over whether or not to stay impartial on ACA 5. Mr. Cass was amongst those that needed his get together to oppose the proposed modification. Whereas some spoke in favor of neutrality in the course of the session, he spoke in opposition to it.
“There’s some issues in life we are able to’t be impartial about,” he mentioned in his remarks, evaluating his place to that of early Republicans who fought to finish the enslavement of black People and arguing that the legalization of same-sex marriage “has created chaos within the household.”
“We can not afford to alienate the individuals of religion in our get together, together with and particularly the massive Hispanic neighborhood that we have now to maneuver into the Republican Social gathering,” he added.
Benito Bernal, a Latino delegate to the gathering, agreed.
“If the church doesn’t transfer the Republican Social gathering on this place, hundreds of Democrats on the fence will refuse to affix our aspect,” Mr. Bernal instructed The Epoch Occasions.
Finally, nevertheless, the impartial place received out. Mr. Gascon allegedly railed in opposition to Mr. Cass after Mr. Cass had already misplaced.
Mr. Gascon resigned as his county get together’s government director in Might a couple of month after the get together’s earlier chair, Paula Whitsell, stepped down. However his resignation isn’t efficient till June, after which he’s slated to affix the workplace of Republican Jordan Marks, San Diego County’s assessor/recorder/county clerk.
“Relaxation assured, I’m totally dedicated to making sure a seamless transition throughout my remaining time on the Republican Social gathering of San Diego County,” Mr. Gascon mentioned in a resignation letter reproduced by the Occasions of San Diego.
When requested whether or not Mr. Gascon ought to have the ability to be a part of the county workplace, Mr. Frederickson, the witness to the shuttle bus confrontation, had a easy response.
“No, in fact not,” he mentioned.
Mr. Cass despatched the grievance relating to Mr. Gascon to San Diego Republican Social gathering Chairman Corey Gustafson on Might 22.
Mr. Gustafson and the California GOP didn’t reply to repeated requests for remark from The Epoch Occasions.
The Epoch Occasions repeatedly emailed an e-mail deal with related to Mr. Gascon and left a message on his answering machine. He has not but responded.
The drama on the shuttle to San Francisco Worldwide Airport capped off a comparatively quiet weekend on the largest state’s GOP conference.
Republican Steve Garvey was absent from the gathering. Mr. Garvey, a retired skilled baseball participant who will face Democrat Adam Schiff on this fall’s Senate race after narrowly shedding to him in March’s “jungle main,” is a supporter of same-sex marriage.