19-02-2025
State rep deletes social media share of controversial slur
Feb. 18—A six-term Republican state legislator and committee chairman said he deleted his share of a post on the X social media platform that referred to an upcoming summit of moderate political leaders as a "gay retards" summit.
Rep. James Spillane, R-Deerfield, said he had meant only to share the controversial attack privately with a group discussion.
The critical post was about the Principles First Summit to be held this weekend in Washington, D.C., that will feature many critics of President Donald Trump, including rival presidential candidates Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson as well as former Republican National Chairman Michael Steele and former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, the latter who had voted in favor of impeaching Trump.
"I certainly did not mean to publicly share that. I saw it posted this morning modified from the original event notification and meant to only share it privately with a group discussion regarding who might be attending such a conference in Washington," Spillane told the Union Leader.
"I have deleted it and appreciate your pointing it out to me."
Spillane chairs the House Fish and Game and Marine Resources Committee.
Kristina Snyder, an animal rights activist who has battled Spillane over legislation that he has sponsored, first alerted media outlets to Spillane's past sharing of the item.
"This is extremely offensive and he tweeted it from his official representative account. I am sickened that someone would mock being gay and also a mental disability like this," Snyder wrote.
In 2019, then-House Speaker Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, removed Spillane from the same House committee after he had posted on Twitter a graphic photo of him having shot a squirrel to death in his backyard.
klandrigan@
