Seattle's LGBTQ commission demands gay mayor resign after abuse claims

[Amused]

Seattle’s LGBTQ Commission is demanding the city’s openly gay
mayor resign immediately following allegations that he sexually
abused his teenage foster son and three others in the 1980s.

In a scathing letter sent to Mayor Ed Murray on Monday, the
commission referenced a child welfare report filed with the
state and published by The Seattle Times that seemed to indicate
that Murray sexually abused his foster son Jeff Simpson when he
was a teenager.

Murray has strongly pushed back on the claims and labeled them
homophobic – something the city’s LGBTQ commission took issue
with.

“We perceive your attempt to dismiss these claims as a
‘politically motivated’ monolithic issue of homophobia to be a
maneuver that is divisive and damaging to our community,” the
letter said. “Claiming homophobic intent to shield yourself from
accountability and erase the experiences of survivors of sexual
abuse is silencing, manipulative, and morally repugnant.”

The commission said the mayor’s response to the allegations have
been “harmful and inappropriate.”

No criminal charges were ever filed in connection with the May
20, 1984 Oregon Child Protective Services report, though the
report recommended that “under no circumstances should Mr.
Murray be certified” as a foster parent in the future.

The three other boys who claimed they were sexually abused
ranged in age from 13 to about 15 years old.

CALLS GROW FOR SEATTLE MAYOR TO RESIGN AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE REPORT

The disturbing details of the report have several city leaders
calling for Murray to resign ahead of the November election.

“Noting both that you are the first openly gay Mayor of Seattle,
and that many individuals on the Seattle LGBTQ Commission were
appointed by you, we do not take our decision to call for your
resignation lightly,” the letter said. “While some may say that
you should be given the opportunity to serve out the remainder
of your term, we feel that would be inadequate. With both moral
and pragmatic motivations, we feel we must call for your
resignation."

Last week, current mayoral candidate Jessyn Ferrell and former
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn called for Murray to step down.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/25/seattles-lgbtq-
commission-demands-gay-mayor-resign-after-abuse-claims.html