This story is actually a little old, having taken place in 2002. Yet in many ways it is telling, given how few news media outlets carried it. For those who believe in a conservative media bias, I ask this question: why did this story get buried? Most certainly if this was about homophobia all of the established news community would have reported this excessively and maybe even a few plays would have been written. But no, this stayed fairly below ground, as though it never happened. More to the point, mainstream media does not want us to know it happened.

A local Baptist minister and former President Ronald Reagan are among a list of individuals "who have earned a horrible death,'' according to a Web site created by a gay extremist who recently pleaded guilty to holding a Baptist minister hostage in San Diego, Calif.

The FBI in Erie and San Diego, where the site originates, are investigating to determine if any federal laws are being violated by the site's creator, B. Allen Ross, said Bob Rudge, supervisory agent for the FBI in Erie.

The Rev. Patrick Kennedy, associate pastor of First Baptist Church in North East, is on a "most-wanted'' list on usQueers.com that also includes "sincere wishes'' that national figures such as Reagan, Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, and evangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "die soon.''

Kennedy last spring urged the congregation of his church to stay away from the South Shore Inn, where teen dances were being held, because of alleged homosexual activity there. The restaurant was run by Patricia Graham and Danielle Hazen, who had an openly gay relationship. Graham and Hazen denied there was any inappropriate activity at the restaurant, which they no longer operate.

Kennedy said he and his family have become more cautious since learning about the Web site, but they have not made any significant changes to their routines.

"I find it a little disconcerting that there is a Web site like this,'' said Kennedy. "I have sometimes been challenged by the homosexual community as being intolerant and perhaps dangerous, yet it would never be even remote in my mind to do physical harm. Yet, here is a Web site that is encouraging someone to do that to me. An interesting irony.''

Information about the site was forwarded to the FBI, the Secret Service and the office of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, according to Erie private investigator Douglas Hagmann and Florida lawyer Jack B. Thompson, who specializes in defending conservative causes in First Amendment cases.

Hagmann and Thompson also are pursuing legal means to have the Web site shut down.

"This guy is a one-man Taliban,'' said Thompson of the site's creator, B. Allen Ross. "He is intolerant to any views different to his to the point of death. ... I believe it is a violation of the law to advocate the appropriateness of someone being murdered.''

Reached at his home in San Diego, Ross said he does not believe text on the site violates any laws, pointing to a disclaimer that states usQueers.com "does not authorize, ratify, or directly or indirectly threaten or encourage acts of violence'' against the "heterosexual extremists'' on the wanted list.

The site does urge contributors to provide information such as addresses, phone numbers and favorite hangouts "which could be useful in spotting these dangerous ... supremacists when they are wandering around loose.

"If a person on the list dies (preferably a horrible death), a line will be drawn through their name,'' the site states. "If a person on this list is merely wounded or debilitated in some way, we will change the color of their name to brown.''

Asked if he wanted to see the people on the list die, Ross said: "Sure — wishful thinking. Each of the people on the list have spent a great deal of their careers trying to find ways to change the government so my lifestyle is subjugated to theirs. I wish they would just go away. I wish they would just freaking die.''

Ross said he learned of Kennedy's views on homosexuality while surfing the Internet in the spring. References to the controversy in North East appear on at least two gay-related Web sites, Shame.org and Eriegaynews.com.

Although Ross stands behind the statements on the Web page, he said Wednesday that he planned to tone down the rhetoric because of possible legal concerns. He said he has not been contacted by law enforcement officials about the Web site.

Ross is awaiting sentencing for a June 16 incident in which he confronted David Powell, minister of maintenance and media with the First Southern Baptist Church in San Diego. Brandishing a shard of broken glass in his hand, Ross spoke vehemently about the stance Southern Baptist leaders had taken on homosexuality and other issues at a convention in New Orleans, Powell said.

Ross then forced Powell to contact a local television station and the head pastor of the church.

Within about 20 minutes, police arrived on the scene and subdued Ross, Powell said.

Ross said he suffers from bipolar disorder and blamed the incident on a "manic episode.''

"It was what I would call a fluke,'' he said.

Police charged Ross with burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping. In a plea bargain in October, Ross pleaded guilty to the kidnapping charge, said Liz Pursell, spokeswoman for the San Diego District Attorney's office. Ross faces a maximum of eight years in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 7, Pursell said.

When informed about the incident at the San Diego church, North East's Kennedy said, "well, I'm glad there's 3,000 miles separating us.''

Michael Mahler, co-editor of Eriegaynews.com, said usQueers.com is the only gay-oriented Web site he has seen that advocates violence. Mahler said the site doesn't reflect the views of the mainstream gay and lesbian community. Mahler said the rhetoric on the usQueers.com site is as deplorable as statements on the godhatesfags.com site hosted by anti-gay extremist Fred Phelps.

"It is rude and doesn't accomplish anything,'' said Mahler. "Anyone doing inflammatory stuff like this is just plain stupid. This guy is an extremist. We don't judge Christianity by the KKK, and we shouldn't judge the gay community by this guy.''

Source:

Westcott, Scott, "North East minister listed on Web site's death list ", Erie Times News,May 13. 2002, http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73169665996044&Avis=GE&Dato=20011129&Kategori=FRONTPAGE&Lopenr=111290081&Ref=AR, accessed on 07/12/2008.