Monday, June 1, 2009

Jeff Grizlo's Defense Of Rep. Mark Foley Still Generates Lively Internet Debate

Jeff Grizlo has served as the elected President of Stonewall Libertarians New York (SLNY) since August 4, 2006. During his service in that capacity, he has accomplished many things and has provided his opinions on issues that have been placed as quotations in News Releases sent out by Stonewall Libertarians and by Stonewall Libertarians New York.

One statement made by Jeff Grizlo is still generating Internet debate to this day. It was placed in a News Release sent out by Stonewall Libertarians on October 20, 2006. An excerpt of that News Release follows:

Turning Over A New Page: Ending The Hysteria Over Teenage Sexuality

The revelation that former Rep. Mark Foley exchanged friendly e-mails and sexually explicit instant messages with former Congressional pages raises the issue whether what he did should be considered wrong or inappropriate. Certainly, if said conduct took place in Washington D.C., where the age of consent is 16, Rep. Foley could have had consensual sex with those male pages without committing any crime. Written communication with male pages who registered on Mark Foley's gaydar screen shouldn't be turned into a shameful or immoral act...

"The male pages who sought to pursue a personal relationship with Rep. Foley knew exactly who they were getting involved with when they exchanged e-mails and instant messages with the Congressman. It was no secret Mark Foley was gay. If any of the male pages weren't interested in such a relationship, they could have terminated the communications at any time," said Jeff Grizlo, a college student who is President of Stonewall Libertarians New York. "I would have been eager to pursue a personal relationship with Rep. Foley had the opportunity been presented to me. I've been a Bent Wanker for as far back as I can recall. I've been exchanging sexually explicit instant messages with friends since I was 14. To do so with a like-minded gay Congressman would've boosted my self-esteem, inspired me to achieve better grades, and might have helped me feel less alone," Grizlo said.

The vibrant Internet debate has centered around "age of consent" laws, whether adults can communicate with each other as they see fit, and whether "gay hysteria" forced Rep. Mark Foley to resign from Congress even though he violated no law and no criminal charges were ever brought against him.

Especially noteworthy was Jeff Grizlo's revelation he "would have been eager to pursue a personal relationship with Rep. Foley had the opportunity been presented" and his belief it "would've boosted my self-esteem, inspired me to achieve better grades, and might have helped me feel less alone."

Mr. Grizlo's statement, "I've been a Bent Wanker for as far back as I can recall" has also drawn favorable commentary. In an article posted at Queerty (Free Of An Agenda, Except That Gay One) entitled "Hey Kids, What Time Is It?" http://www.queerty.com/hey-kids-what-time-is-it-20061023/ the author commented on the Bent Wanker reference by saying "love that gay speak, by-the-by". On a side note, Jeff Grizlo has used Bent Wankers as one of the names for his fantasy football teams over the past few years.

Stonewall Libertarians, founded by a Stonewall Veteran on April 20, 1996, is an independent organization of libertarians that believes in being politically active to promote smaller government, lower taxes and more individual freedom. It exists to reach out to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender & gay-friendly libertarians to promote tolerance and equality in society.

Its website is located at http://www.stonewalllibertarians.org/

In Liberty,

Dr. Tom Stevens
Executive Director
Stonewall Libertarians

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