Atlantic Beach commissioner airs anti-gay comments on Facebook

ATLANTIC BEACH – Atlantic Beach Commissioner Jonathan Daugherty sent a hate-filled remark to a fellow council member advising her that he was unfriending her on Facebook because of her support of an LGBT organization..

The message was sent to Maria Mark’s private inbox and explained Daugherty’s distain for her strategy in passing the local Human Rights Ordinance. Mark announced her re-election bid on June 14 but has posted several updates on Facebook prior to that date showing Equality Florida’s support for her re-election.

Mark told The Florida Times-Union that she thought about responding. Instead, she shared it on Facebook with the message: “Comments?”

Daugherty’s private message read: “I just wanted to let you know I am going to defriend you on Facebook during the election not because I don’t like you as a person but because it makes me sick to my stomach and makes my blood boil every time I see an LGBT event or endorsement in my newsfeed. I think you will find an increasingly large backlash to what you have done and you will lose by a very large margin. Remember even though they may write a check and pat you on the back most don’t live here and they can’t vote. The people that you have pissed off though can and will and that is a majority of the people I talk to. I will pray for your soul.”

Daugherty does not plan to support Mark or her opponent, John Stinson, in the upcoming election.

Daugherty has two years before his term expires, after which he cannot run again because of term limits.

“I am a firm believer in what a marriage is right now,” Daugherty said. “What is disappointing to me is that when you disagree with someone in the community, it is automatically assumed it is hate, it is prejudice.”

Mark has been recognized by several equality organizations for her passionate support in gaining awareness for LGBT issues.

Mark said Atlantic Beach made history when it passed the HRO in August 2013, following the city of Jacksonville’s failed attempt. She said she posted the fellow commissioner’s comments to show how close-minded some elected officials can be.

“It is insulting because he is saying he is on a higher pedestal, and I am this slimy creature that needs to be saved,” Mark said.

Mark asked her friends on Facebook to put the issue behind them, “to let it be and move on.”

“I am not running for re-election to create division, but am running to bring UNITY in our commUNITY!” she stated. “There is no place for negativity, let’s work on resolving the real issues.”

More in News

See More