February 9, 2013
Ohio Mayor Resigns Over Gay Slurs
Steve Weinstein READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The mayor of a southeastern Ohio town has resigned over accusations that she repeatedly called a gay police officer "queer" in front of his colleagues and created a hostile work environment.
Jackie Welker, council president in the Village of Pomeroy, tells The Associated Press that 78-year-old Mayor Mary McAngus submitted a letter of resignation Saturday.
Police Chief Mark Proffitt told the council this week that McAngus referred to Officer Kyle Calendine as "queer" in front of other officers and dispatchers. He says that at one point she said, "I don't like a queer working for the village."
Proffitt had warned the council that McAngus' alleged comments could open the village to a lawsuit.
Calendine says the situation worsened in recent weeks.
McAngus did not immediately return a call for comment.
Steve Weinstein has been a regular correspondent for the International Herald Tribune, the Advocate, the Village Voice and Out. He has been covering the AIDS crisis since the early '80s, when he began his career. He is the author of "The Q Guide to Fire Island" (Alyson, 2007).
