05/07/2007
Breaking: Ft. Lauderdale Anti-Gay Airport Broadcaster Caught...
Developing from south Florida...
I just received word from Anthony Niedwiecki, who reported the incident at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport I posted about earlier this week, that officials in Ft. Lauderdale have located the individual who broadcast the anti-gay Biblical message over the airport's PA system last week.
According to Niedwiecki, he and his partner Waymon Hudson had just arrived from Chicago, were waiting at the baggage claim, an announcement a voice over the PA system: "A man who lies with another man as he would a woman is subject to death." Officials quickly began an investigation after being alerted by Niedwiecki.
The individual reportedly works for a contractor at the airport and admitted to law enforcement that he or she recorded the message on a cell phone and played it over the PA system twice, just as Niedwiecki reported he heard it. According to Niedwiecki, authorities told him the individual confessed when confronted by police at their home yesterday.
There are sure to be more developments. Stay tuned.
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Posted 7:04 AM EST by Andy Towle in Crime, Florida, News, Religion | Permalink
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Good. I've got a message for that person, too. Enjoy unemployment. Ask Jesus to get you a job.
Posted by: Marco | May 7, 2007 7:58:12 AM
Oh, well. Hope they do something to the wingnut nutcase for spreading hate (and death threats, mind you). They'll probably said it was their 'faith' what led them to do all that. And I think I remember the officials did not start that investigation that 'quickly'. They acted only after repeated complaints from the two men?
Posted by: Xavier | May 7, 2007 7:59:37 AM
I think there are a couple of people who post on Towleroad who owe Mr. Niedwiecki and his partner an apology for insinuating that they might have made up the story.
Posted by: Zeke | May 7, 2007 9:13:55 AM
UHmmmm Chris I think and some others who questioned the truthfulness of the situation and basicaly blamed the victims for making it up....who were all "what about coraborating witnesses" etc.
You all owe an appology to Anthony and his lover. You owe an appology to Andy. You owe an appology to the gay community. Lastly you owe an appology to yourselves for being so self hating that you automaticaly condemn your own community first.
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 7, 2007 9:17:32 AM
Wow, that is great news. I am quite curious to know what the penalties (if any) will be for this infraction. As many pointed out in comments on the initial story, there is a "homeland security" issue here where the PA system could be used without authorization.
Posted by: Jonathon | May 7, 2007 9:23:05 AM
I went back and looked at old posts on this subject. Sorry to all christophers out there. There was no self hating chris postings. Mitch though, you owe an apology to Anthony, Andy, the community, and yourself.
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 7, 2007 9:25:40 AM
Who would make up a situation so completely ludicrous. Maybe a lone nut, but a couple???
Andy Towlie posters are supposed to be smarter than that.
Posted by: Marco | May 7, 2007 9:56:37 AM
Idiot people who think they're better than everyone else. I hope they get what they deserve.
Just a friendly reminder to make sure you visit HRC and fill out the form to make sure your Senator votes in favor of the Matthew Shepard Act/Hate Crime bill.
Here's the link
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/matthew_shepard
Posted by: Bobby | May 7, 2007 9:59:39 AM
It seems to be a bad trend that we will demonize our own community and spread the same kind of shit that bigots spread about homosexuals.
If we don't support each other, it will be easy to destroy us all.
Posted by: Bobby | May 7, 2007 10:03:41 AM
From the posting:
"Officials quickly began an investigation after being alerted by Niedwiecki."
I question the response as "quick[]" -- it seemed only to take off AFTER there was national and broad-based local media and other governmental (not airport-related) attention being paid.
That being said, I'm glad Towleroad is able to help focus such attention. Let's keep it up.
Posted by: tjc | May 7, 2007 10:27:05 AM
I agree that it's terrible to blame our own community first... but a little self-directed skepticism can be extremely useful in emotionally charged situations. I'm very glad that they found the person (thank goodness they were at least honest about it, unlike most christianist fundies out there would be). But I think the guys out there who toss out relatively unpopular viewpoints (read: "self-hating") inadvertently provide an important service to lots of debates. It's easy among GLBT debates to get into a groupthink mentality, and I think it's really helpful to hear dissenting opinions... even if they only serve to solidify the majority viewpoint. Every once in a while we might find that one of those posts we find so offensive might cause us to step back a little and see a situation in a broader context. That can only be a good thing, even if it doesn't end up changing my overall opinion.
Posted by: Brian | May 7, 2007 11:03:05 AM
Good news indeed!
Posted by: Giovanni | May 7, 2007 11:04:19 AM
I think that people who only may have visited the area and knowing how gay friendly it is, may have found it had to think something like that might happen, BUT one must also remember that Rev. Kennendy's homophobic church is less than 10 miles from the airport, so I was not surprised at all. THe GOOD NEWS is that Oakland Park, the city of Rev. Kennendy's church, now has a gay mayor.
Posted by: Tulle | May 7, 2007 11:08:16 AM
They fly 747s into Fort Lauderdale? Wow.
Posted by: Josh | May 7, 2007 12:34:02 PM
They fly 747s into Fort Lauderdale? Wow.
Posted by: Josh | May 7, 2007 12:36:36 PM
What kind of fucking loser actually takes the time to record something like that and play it over a PA system? That's so bizzare....people are strange
Posted by: matt | May 7, 2007 12:45:10 PM
Skepticism is one thing, it's another to accuse people of lying--especially when you don't know the whole story.
Posted by: Daniel | May 7, 2007 5:12:39 PM