Dan Manning, a 29-year-old West Point grad and eight-year Army veteran form Wichita who was discharged under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, is running for the Kansas House of Representatives in the state's 91st District. Manning's opponent has used his sexuality to foment anger against him. This weekend, Manning found a ransom-style note attached to his front door threatening to kill him.
The Kansas Equality Coalition writes:
Dan's opponent is long-time incumbent Brenda Landwehr. Landwehr, a notorious far-right conservative, has been a vocal opponent of equal rights for gay, lesbian and transgendered Kansans. Since February, she has used Dan's sexual orientation to stir up her constituent. She has gone so far as to use language that Dan was told was “too offensive” to repeat.
This weekend, the homophobia and name-calling took a dangerous and criminal turn.
Dan arrived home from work on Saturday to find a death threat attached to his front door (above).
The note is clearly an offensive way to use threats of deadly violence in an attempt to intimidate and silence Dan and his campaign and, by extension, our entire community and our interests in Topeka. Dan has no intentions of backing down and has seen this latest example of bigotry as proof that his campaign must go on. He and his campaign team's resolve is now stronger than ever.
The Wichita Police Department is investigating.
Tweeted Manning regarding the threat: “With vision there is no room to be frightened. No reason for intimidation. It's time to march forward! Let's be confident and positive!”
Visit Manning's campaign site here.
