She is a Tea Party mouthpiece... unfortunately, it's not a very surprising comment coming from a supporter of that group.

Yes Kevin - the gay community calls themselves queer. I firmly support marriage as being defined as between one man and one woman and I am not going to change my position. That said, I love all people and will continue to work towards promoting a vibrant City of Troy. The groups that despise me are digging deep to try to find something to worry about. They probably should start worrying about how they can best work with a new Mayor who believes that we live in a free country and we all have first amendment rights to speak our minds on any and all issues that are before us. IF they would try to find some common ground rather than spending so much time trying to destroy me, we might advance the community towards a prosperous future. BTW, I am still carrying my I Love New York bag. Janice Daniels, Mayor of the great City of Troy

It's one thing to support a position and yet another to promote hate speech.

No offense, Mayor, but it doesn't seem like anyone had to dig very deep for this.

And you have multiple groups who "despise" you? Doesn't that indicate a pattern? What's the common denominator?

A comment was deleted for violating Patch's Terms of Service.

The First Amendment is great, Mayor Daniels, but you really need to stop using that as an excuse to say whatever you want. Just because you have the right to say something doesn't mean you should say it. We as humans have a responsibility to one another to be respectful with our words and treat each other as we would want to be treated. Jesus promoted this idea and as a Christian I believe this--don't you?

Mayor, as citizen I am outraged. As a lifetime resident of Troy, for the first time in my life I am embarassed. I can't believe I live in a city that elected a bigot.

Mayor, I am disgusted by your bigoted comment. I support freedom of speech, NOT freedom of hate speech. As a tax payer in Troy, I am ashamed and outraged.

The articles does not mention the political affiliation of the mayor.

And yet we have no doubt what it is. Why do you suppose that is?

Now, I know you don't HAVE to promote acceptance and love if you're a Mayor (although personally I tend to like my leaders a little less ignorant), but I would think you SHOULD be smart enough to keep your ridiculous, thoughtless comments to yourself. Guess it doesn't take it a lot of brains to run for office these days.

Oh and PS. I don't despise you. I actually had no idea who you were until I saw this article. Not sure why people would need to dig deep to bring you down when clearly you're doing a pretty bang up job of doing it for them. Kudos.

The mayor says she has the right to free speech and that by SHARING her real, true words and feelings that we are trying to destroy her. Really? If you can be destroyed by your own words, whose fault is that?
http://keeptroystrong.blogspot.com/2011/12/janice-wants-to-represent-people-which.html

When one becomes an important elected official, one needs to take special care not to use vulgar, insulting speech that attacks and hurts an entire community. She is now the mayor of a large, vibrant, cosmopolitan community that has huge diversity. Whether she dislikes Gays, or Muslims, or Asian Americans, or Chaldeans, doesnt matter, but she needs to act like a responsible community leader. She needs to apologize not only to the GLBT community of Troy, and to the entire city of Troy, but to the entire region. This controversy could be very damaging to Troy is she doesnt start now to repair the damage.

Stay classy, Mayor.

She's the kind of person who would have said the same thing about "n------" in 1967. Hate never goes out of style on the far right right fringe.

Her campaign literature clearly indicated that she was a tea party favorite, and she boasted of her family values and business outlook. Her opponent was well qualified. Shame on my neighbor for being fooled. Please remember in the future that all family values are not the same and all are religious in nature. Elected politicians should represent all citizens and all values, or they should not run for office.

Craig,

There is some really nasty stuff going on in Michigan. Anti gay legislation, etc. Look at Tom McMillin. Head of Education house committee and has written 2 new anti gay bills that are still fair game to go into effect as law. Michissippi. Time to get these nuts out of office. 2011!

It's incredible that a public figure would be so daft as to post something like this to a public forum. Oh wait, nevermind... it happens all the time. ::sigh::

I'm "Sick & Tired" of the Media misusing the term "Homophobia", "Dislike" does not involve or mean "Fear", "Phobia" means "Fear"! Get it right or get gone!

Tea Partiers. In hot pursuit of restoring an America that never existed. And just under the surface of all that ridiculous rhetoric is the same racist bigoted group that has done everything they could to make sure that America never achieves genuine greatness and equality for all of its citizens. Everlasting shame on all of you.

How did she get elected to begin with?
Was she running against Sarah Palin or a Kardashian?

She ran a campaign based on 'fear'. Fear of taxes, fear of progress and apparently fear of gay people.

Madam Daniels, New York City called. They want their New York City bag back. You're not worthy of owning one.

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!

Ms. Daniels pretended to be a nice person during her campaign. She hid her Tea Party roots, and even though she fought AGAINST saving our library, she ran as a pro-library candidate. It was disgusting.

What a silly, bigoted thing for her to say. Glad I don't live there.

Mayor Daniels posted on this comment page defending her stance that she is "morally opposed to gay marriage, which she feels should be between one man and one woman". Wonder why her post is no longer here? She is insane, and the people should know this. Unfortunately, I must admit that this time it is not the fault of the Troy voters (although voter turnout was extremely low) but J. Daniels lied and was completely misleading on her political affiliations (independent my foot!) and her support for the Troy Library (she worked hard to ensure the 3 fake millage proposals were on the ballots to ensure vote confusion, not a straight yes or not vote). And she was well funded by the national tea party. Nobody is slandering her or dragging her through the mud, her own words and "moral compass" will be her demise.

I also saw the post anne is referring to and wondered where it went. Hopefully someone got a screen shot.

Janice deleted her comment on this article. Here it is again:

"Yes Kevin - the gay community calls themselves queer. I firmly support marriage as being defined as between one man and one woman and I am not going to change my position. That said, I love all people and will continue to work towards promoting a vibrant City of Troy. The groups that despise me are digging deep to try to find something to worry about. They probably should start worrying about how they can best work with a new Mayor who believes that we live in a free country and we all have first amendment rights to speak our minds on any and all issues that are before us. IF they would try to find some common ground rather than spending so much time trying to destroy me, we might advance the community towards a prosperous future. BTW, I am still carrying my I Love New York bag. Janice Daniels, Mayor of the great City of Troy"

Janice, honey, gay people don't use the word 'queer'. If they do, they use it like black people use the N-word. 'Queer' has negative connotations and is extremely disrespectful. Your post was disgusting, horrifying, and rude.

I live in a large east coast city, and honestly, this woman kind of exemplifies what east and west coasters think of people in the middle: small-minded, inexperienced in the larger world, and nasty under a patina of politesse.

But, we on the coasts know that there are progressive people in the middle too. And we thank them for their tenacity. I just couldn't imagine living in a place where people who are so cavalierly bigoted run the place!

She is a legend in her own mind.

What an idiot. Great job bringing this to light, Patch.

Here we go again with the homophobia. What a moron.

Under no circumstances should this person be allowed to keep her job as a mayor and representative of a growing, diverse, AMERICAN city. There is still more than enough hatred and bigotry holding it's ground in the world today, and we need to teach INTOLERANCE TO IT, at the earliest ages. And we certainly cant have people who represent us, our city, and our culture be allowed to keep that position after such a hateful statement, and expect to see any changes in these sadly ongoing conditions.

Please hold the mayor accountable and don't punish Troy for this ridiculous woman's comments.
http://keeptroystrong.blogspot.com/2011/12/hold-mayor-daniels-accountable-dont.html

http://www.facebook.com/FightHATE - stop Mayor Janice Daniels' bigotry and hate from influencing the "tone at the top" in Troy.

Word on the street is that Tom McMillin will be running for John Pappageorge's Senate Seat. Troy, MI will get the opportunity to vote him out of office after they recall Ms. Daniels. Time to put a stop to this kind of stuff. MI is becoming a laughing stock because of these anti gay people. Michissippi.

Quick note: When one of these Tea Party whack jobs say they love/respect ALL PEOPLE that doesn't include homosexuals. They don't consider homosexuals people. Michissippi here we come!

I spend about $2500/year on hotel bills in Troy. I don't want to stay in a city that is led by people who want to deny me my civil rights. I intend on having a conversation with the general manager of my hotel there, explaining exactly why I am moving my business to Birmingham. Yes, there are economic consequences for bigotry and prejudice.

How embarassing that anyone including a public figure would make this kind of ignorant statement! There is no reason to call anyone a name other than they were given by their parents.

I am a lifelong Troy citizen and am rearing my children here. I'm not so sure all those who voted for Ms. Daniels were duped. While it's very disheartening, I think there are many in Troy who quietly agree with Ms. Daniels her reactionary views. It's truly abhorrent that, instead of apologizing to her outraged constituents for her pre-election hate speech, she cloaks herself in the first amendment and her bible. At best, she is just an ignorant cyber bully. At worst, she is a horrible, shameful example to all of our students of what an elected official is like. I wish the Troy City Council the best of luck managing damage control during this woman's tenure in office - you have your work cut out for you. As for me and my house, we will teach our children NOT to emulate people like Ms. Daniels, to always stand up to bullies and haters in any form, and to vote against bigotry and ignorance every time.

Letter I wrote to the Troy City Council....

I have been mostly silent during this last election season but now I feel that I must let all of you know how I feel.

I would imagine that before this email some of you had no Idea who I am.

I sat in your seats for 18 years from April 1978 to April 1996.

During that time Troy grew up from a small community to a thriving vibrant city.

I was proud to call Troy my home and was proud of the small part that I played in helping to make Troy the great place to live, work and play that it was.

We were know nationally and were a model for many cities to follow in their own growth. Troy was definitely “on the map” of those cities that were nationally known for being fiscally responsible, well planned with great diversity, while maintaining the lowest tax rate of any city in our region. During my 18 years in office we lowered the tax rate almost every year and we were the true Tax Fighters.

During the time that I was on the City Council there were many BIG decisions that had to be made and we made these decisions after great thought and many very heated discussions. We had many 4-3 votes but never the same 4 or 3....we didn’t have factions on the city council until Bob Gosselin and Matt Pryor got elected and from that time on the rancor got worse as time went on. Troy over the years lost its national reputation and at times became a laughing stock and an embarrassment to all who lived here.

Now we have hit an ALL TIME low. We now have a Mayor who is boorish and seems to only want what SHE wants and is hell-bent on ramming these few things through no matter the consequences. The events of this last weekend and the revelation that the Mayor is a bigot and will not even back down when even her friends have abandoned her is the last straw.

I truly believe that Mayor Daniels has lost the ability to govern and should immediately resign and let Troy get on with restoring the pride that it once had. Her attitude that she wants to do things her way no matter what the City Charter says shows her complete lack of understanding of governance.

During her entire term of office any decisions she makes will be viewed under a different light then it would have before the events of this weekend.

Randy Husk

former councilman City of Troy

I cannot see how a person with such disregard and blatant ignorance could possibly be seen as a leader. If you don't have a basic respect for all people, you are NOT leader material. Everyone does have the right to free speech, but when you are the voice and face of an entire community, that kind of hatred is despicable. An apology at this point would just be a lie, she has already shared her prejudice with the world.

From what I understand, Janice Daniels is active in the PAC "Troy Citizens United" Tea Party rabble which is connected to Woodside Bible church that is actually a fire and brimstone evangelical Baptist church in Troy on Rochester Rd between Square Lake and South Blvd. The church from the very core is deceitful and insincere, in that they changed their longstanding name from Troy Baptist which was down near Big Beaver and Rochester Rd to a generic homogenized name like "Woodside" Now why would they do that? To blend in to their new upscale suburban digs? Nature lovers are they? It should come as no surprise that Janice Daniels would state the hateful things she says because it is in the evangelical ideology. Evangelicals despise homosexuality. Oh they'll say they "love the person just as she has in her half hearted attempt to apologize but I believe Janice Daniels got into the Troy mayors office with these beliefs under the radar and it is all starting to ooze out.
She is going to fold.

Ignorance does not belong in leadership.

Unfortunately, the mayor has the right to express her opinion on any subject, however boneheaded. Fortunately, I have the right to express mine, but I'd rather do it economically. My eleven friends and I often take a Friday night and meet up in Troy for dinner and some shopping. We have de wides that as long as bigotry reigns in the mayor's office, we will take our business elsewhere. We won't spend another dime in Troy as long as Ms. Daniels is in office. Money speaks louder than a bigot anyday. Troy, you got exactly what you voted for. Too bad. But we'll help boost the economy of another locale.

I know exactly what is right and what is wrong and so does she. It is bigotry plain and simple. I have lived in Troy and have been a proud citizen for 25 years and have never heard a Troy Mayor say such a bigoted thing about a certain group of people,they being Gay, Jewish, African American, Polish, or Irish etc... People voted for her because they thought she was a fresh face for the Troy Community. They got their "fresh face", Hopefully she will be a recalled now!!! Thanks But, No Bigots and No Tea For Me

Shameful, disappointing, short-sighted and unfortunate. Great way to start your term Mayor Daniels. Oh wait, have you even been sworn in yet?

The is a group of residents protesting at Monday's council meeting. My husband, sons and I plan to attend. I hope to see you al there.

For those who don't know all of the other hijinx Ms. Daniels has been up to, please read http://keeptroystrong.blogspot.com/

I'm surprised there hasn't been a recall organized yet...

I am deeply saddened to read such an offensive, demeaning use of language attributed to the current Mayor or Troy. During the past 25 years of living here, I do not remember another instance of such mocking speech spewed by a public figure. We're not talking the Right to Free Speech, we're talking about kindness, empathy and common decency. This lack of empathy, this me vs. them mentality, does not translate into Leadership.

Your spontaneous comment on a public forum speaks volumes about your character. Whether you support gay marriage is not the issue, rather your apparent lack of civility, your willingness to mock and denigrate others, your snappy, immature grasping for attention, with your quick, little quip, at the expense of a select group. You appear to lack the knowledge to empathize with the documented angst of growing up gay in the USA. Did you not hesitate for even a moment, thinking of how your words would assault and offend others? Where's your humanity, where is your "do unto others..."

To paraphrase you, "The groups that despise me... should start worrying about how they can best work with a new Mayor..." Your statement seems to imply an over blown sense of grandiosity. Truly, you just don't have that much power.

I missed the last election.
I didn't know your name until yesterday.
I will most certainly be a part of the protest urging your resignation.

It seems the party of tolerance is not very tolerant after all.
If someone does not support a qu eer life style or disagrees with same sex marriage (qu eer marriage) they should be strung up, resign from their position, commit suscide?
What about all those tea bagger comments. The left media still uses it. Even national news outlets say it.
If you want people to be tolerant of your view, you must start by being tolerant of their views...everyone views.

Next, the Mayor could be campaigning for marriage as being defined between one man and one woman of the same race. Or she may advocate that bullying is justified if it is backed by moral or religious convictions. She should step down! Clearly, she does not represent the will of the people whom she is supposed to represent. In this regard, she is no different than Gaddafi or Saddam Hussein.

Wow. Who would have known this story would solicit an avalanche of self-righteousness?

It reminds me of the outpouring of support JK Rowling received when she commented that she imagined Dumbledore was gay as she wrote the Harry Potter books. It seems everybody and their cousin took the opportunity to add their support for a gay Dumbledore.

In April 2008 I wrote, "The real benchmark of homosexuality's acceptance into common culture is when remarks such as Rowling's would be otherwise unremarkable."

I hadn't considered what benchmark to use when someone uses the word "queer" as an insult. I suppose we'll know we've accepted gays into the community when a) gays feel secure enough that such slights don't bother them and b) we consider people who use such words in a derogatory way the same way we do Kennedy and moon-landing conspiracy theorists and c) we don't overreact as though we have something to prove or guilty consciences to assuage.

Personally, I found President Obama's "Clinging to guns and religion" comment regarding the residents of a small Pennsylvania town more cause for concern from someone who wanted to be President than a slur made by Troy's mayor who, as far as I've read from the comments, has no GLBT issues on the city agenda.

If there is, she'll have to recuse herself if she hasn't already lost her post by then.

When that same mayor was pictured in a campaign flyer touting her pro-life stance, those of us who believed that the issue had no place in a non-partisan civic election were told that of course it did. It was an indication of Janice Daniels' overall moral fiber.

I think her reactions to the discovery of her comments are a pretty clear indication, too, Thomas.

For a lot of residents, it's more about how she's handling it than it is about that she said it.

The city of yesterday,Today

Janice Daniels is entitled to her opinion on gay marriage. She is also entitled to being as ignorant as she wants to be. There are many people just like her. The only thing that matters is the courage, commitment and resolve of decent Troy residents. She was voted in as your Mayor. If you don't like it... do something! Even if it's speaking your own beliefs when it's uncomfortable to do so. Just that alone can make a difference to one child who knows they are gay and is horribly afraid and ashamed for who they are.

Go to every council meeting and tell them how you feel, it will be more effective than saying it on here! Call them, write them, email them, post on every blog. Shine the light in these dark spirits before it is too late!
Good Luck Troy, you need it!

WE'RE GOING TO BOYCOTT TROY
http://boycotttroy.com

How appalling that anyone would actually advocate a "just get used to it" approach to silencing the pushback against rampant bigotry. Using that logic, if the "N" people would have been just a little more tolerant of poor Bull Connor's attack dogs and fire hoses then we would live in a happy, prosperous
society. What amazes me the most is how very close the rhetoric of Fox News-addled Tea Partiers is to that of white supremacists. If we refuse to learn the hard lessons of history then we are doomed to go down the same path again and again. As a gay person in America I will not participate in a campaign to tolerate evil as something to be "gotten used to."

So think of it like this Thomas. The people of the City of Troy (the school system in your analogy) are more than willing and able to expel the bully (Janice Daniels) because we accept your hypothesis that we shouldn't waste our time trying to experiment with helping her find more productive ways to deal with her frustrations. Isn't that what you're advocating.

I lived in Troy for 25 years until I retired and moved north. My children graduated from Athens High with a superb education. A good city..the city of tomorrow. Then I read about the library closing. The library where we spent hours, especially my kids during high school and college. How could the city of tomorrow become the city of yesterday? Now I read about the present mayor's comments. Honestly, my heart is heavy. How did she get elected? Didn't the voters do their homework? If I were closer, I would be at the meeting to support her resignation.

Thank you so much Janice for speaking your voice. It's about time that people speak up concerning what they think and why. Do not be afraid of these morons who call themselves whatever they please, no matter what they call it, IT's STILL WRONG !!!
Keep up the good work and God Bless

I agree with the mayor, marriage is mean to be between and man and a woman!!
The “N” word is not used in the same context as the word “Queer” anyone with an ounce of intelligence would know that. The “N” word is used to demean and dehumanize a race of people. Kids with no sense of their history use it and know not what the do and because of this it DOES NOT make it right in no form or fashion!

There is no appropriate time or place for an expression of bigotry by a leader of a multi-racial, multi-ethnic community, whether it be the City of Troy or any other city. A true leader is a person who remembers they serve the people, their consituency, first and foremost. Mayor Daniels has either forgotten this golden rule of leadership, or she had never effectively learned it to begin with; but she is now learning from the voices of the people of her community that no one is served well by a leader whose beliefs and words espouse marginalization of any subset of the population to whom they are responsible. A mere apology is a woefully insufficient plea for absolution in this instance, and will not suffice; only full accountability and remediation to the people of the City of Troy, as well as to the GLBT community in general, can begin to repair and heal the damage. I think resignation from her position as mayor should be only a beginning step, to be followed by a considerable and protracted period of voluntary community service towards the people she has aggrieved.

If she posted it thinking it wouldn't be seen publicy, I question her intelligence.

If she posted it not caring who saw it, I question her judgement and wonder why she is complaining about people out to 'destroy her'.

Funny how after using such a crass term she is now playing the victim.

I for one will do my shopping elsewhere in the state until she either takes responsibilty and makes a suitable apology or is out of office.

Hatred and degradation of other human beings has no place whatsoever in civil government. None. Even if a civil servant hates a group of people enough to deny them a basic civil right such as marriage, she should at least have the good judgment and decency to keep nasty slurs to herself and phrase her opinion in standard spoken English. Since she has now revealed herself to be the kind of person who is so disconnected from how decent people conduct themselves, she should resign.

I think those that have "trashed" Tea Partyers on this blog are no better than the mayor they criticize. Is it okay that they make derogatory remarks about one group of people, but then complain when the mayor does it? I find them every bit as bigoted. Very hypocritical.

Wow, I just read the Mayor's response above. 1st, it's about context , then 2nd she trots out the 1st amendment. Typical Tea Bagger, they play the victim every time their own word get them into trouble.
Look, it's your own words that are being used. No one invented this, you posted it.
Didn't know things are going so well in SE Lower Michigan that it's time for the Baggers to go back to their old play book of God, Guns and Gays!

http://www.advocate.com/printArticle.aspx?id=244833

Apparently Ms. Daniels was working in an office full of homosexuals. It must not have bothered her too much.

http://www.queerty.com/how-should-we-punish-janice-daniels-the-nyc-hating-bigoted-mayor-of-troy-mi-20111207/#comments

Prime example of how the Q word can be used by homosexuals, but no one else. Notice the caption under Taylor Lautner's picture?

Thank you Ms. Daniels for standing up for what is right, and not what homosexuals are trying to ram down our throats. Someday soon this country will do what's right and obey GODS LAWS and not the laws of man, (who makes a lot of mistakes lately)............

There's only ONE god, and he's coming one day for the final judgement of this world, and the gays are most likely to suffer, as they are breaking Gods law as simple as that. If anything is going down throats, it's most likely yours, as you seem to be so upset with my comment, and no .I have been married for 41 yrs. to the same woman I met a long time ago, and have children the proper way, and they have their children the proper way, with not having to worry about having to lie to themselves........

You my friend are not worth talking too, you are truly set in your ways, and I'm am still glad that Ms. Daniels stood up for what is truly right and just. Have a nice day.........

She expressed an opinion on a valid observation that HIV/Aids has been endemic with the gay community and pointed out the danger affiliated with them. So now she faces political crucifixion for stating the truth? The over whelming comments against her are proof of a social order in the process of rapid degradation. You people can condemn me and people like this mayor but you cannot change the laws of nature and no man made law can change it
She is indeed the mayor of all of us and certainly part of her duty is to warn her constituents of all possible dangers whether they like it or not.

Unfortunately, no one warned Troy about ignorance.

Mayor Daniels, You are an American speaking your mind and I applaud you. You did say that you might have chosen different words if you had it to do over again. Hey, I've been there, and so have most folks. Keep your courage up against the 'gay' agenda that seeks (whether consciously or not) to destroy our Judeo-Christian culture. You are in my prayers!

Escalonz and Pedro Domingo,
We are ALL Americans here!! Regardless of our positions!!! Don't forget that or denigrate your fellow citizens. I support that what you and the Mayor believe is good for you and she personally, but I have to say, the Mayor is neither our minister nor an medical expert and should not be espousing or promoting her moral beliefs or medical advice in her role as Mayor. None of this is in her job description. If she were to stick to the issues of managing (not ministering to) the City, she will stay out of trouble. But apparently, her social fundamentalist beliefs are blinding her to this essential understanding of her role in the public sphere. Regardless of our own personal religious beliefs, we should condemn any Mayor for stepping out of the defined role of that position, including you. We all have our personal religious institutions and beliefs, but when a person enters a job that represents all people of the city, they must leave their proselytizing at home.
The two of you do the city no good by supporting her professionally irresponsible behavior. In fact, you are aiding in the unnecessary and divisive conversation. Shame on you.

I think that thou (You All) dost protest too much.

It is actually "The LADY doth protest too much, methinks", not "thou".
Are you suggesting that the people with objections are actually gay? Or, are you suggesting the people advocating freewill really seek control? Either way, here's a better one...
"I say there is no darkness but ignorance." -- Shakespeare

http://boycotttroy.com