Andrew Shirvell, Who Hounded Gay Student, Now Claims Victim Status
Posted By Robert Steinback On May 11, 2011 @ 1:14 pm In Anti-LGBT | 26 Comments
If Andrew Shirvell represents the vanguard in the crusade against the “homosexual activist agenda,” it’s no contest. The agenda has won.
Shirvell (right), a former Michigan assistant state attorney general, essentially trashed his own career by waging a bitter campaign [1] last year against a man he didn’t even know – Chris Armstrong, a 21-year-old, openly gay University of Michigan student who had just been elected the school’s new student government president. Now, Shirvell, a Michigan alumnus, is stretching the credulity of jurisprudence by claiming in a May 6 court filing that he actually is the victim in the fight he provoked – targeted by a reputed “homosexual agenda” often cited by right-wing extremists as seeking to thwart Christianity, destroy the institution of marriage and expand the number of LGBT people through “recruitment.”
Shirvell’s motion seeks dismissal of a harassment lawsuit Armstrong filed against him April 1. According to the Detroit Free Press, Shirvell’s motion claims Armstrong set out “to make an example out of (me) in order to deter others from criticizing (Armstrong’s) homosexual activist agenda.” Armstrong’s lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $25,000.
According to the newspaper, Shirvell contends that Armstrong – whom no one outside the school’s Ann Arbor campus would likely have ever heard about but for Shirvell’s own actions – “has garnered publicity for himself and for his political agenda by trashing me in the media.” He goes on, “The lawsuit is nothing more than Mr. Armstrong’s latest publicity stunt. It is entirely without merit and totally devoid of reality. Mr. Armstrong has suffered no damages. I am confidant that the Court will ultimately throw out Mr. Armstrong’s baseless lawsuit and that my First Amendment rights will be upheld.”
Armstrong’s “homosexual agenda,” evidently, includes his refusal to wilt in the face of the personal attacks Shirvell launched against him beginning with the creation of “Chris Armstrong Watch,” a website “for concerned University of Michigan alumni, students and others who oppose the recent election of Chris Armstrong – a RADICAL, HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVIST, RACIST ELITIST, & LIAR – as the new head of student government.”
Shirvell in his blog referred to Armstrong as a “privileged pervert” and accused him without evidence of “engaging in sexual escapades at churches and children’s playgrounds.” He called Armstrong “Satan’s representative on the Student Council.” Shirvell showed up at events where he anticipated Armstrong would be (leading the university to ban Shirvell from campus) and even staged protests outside Armstrong’s home, sometimes in the middle of the night.
As a civil servant, Shirvell could not be fired simply for expressing his political views on his own time, although his boss, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, said, “[H]is immaturity and lack of judgment outside the office is clear.” A few weeks later, after a disciplinary hearing, Cox fired Shirvell for “conduct unbecoming a state employee” and for using his state computer during office hours to post on his private blog.
In addition to the lawsuit, Armstrong is seeking to have Shirvell disbarred. “This man is a loose cannon with a law license,” Armstrong’s attorney, Deborah Gordon, told CNN in November. “He should not be practicing law in the state of Michigan. He’s shown himself to be incapable of being a responsible officer of the court.”
26 Comments (Open | Close)
Article printed from Hatewatch | Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org/blog
URL to article: http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2011/05/11/andrew-shirvell-who-hounded-gay-student-now-claims-victim-status/
URLs in this post:
[1] bitter campaign: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/spring/anti-gay-groups-on-the-defensive-afte
Click here to print.
26 Comments To "Andrew Shirvell, Who Hounded Gay Student, Now Claims Victim Status"
#1 Comment By Paen On May 11, 2011 @ 1:45 pm
I just hope that the police are keeping an eye out for Shirvell because this man is definitly crazy enough to hurt someone.
#2 Comment By Ian On May 11, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
Typical behavior from the school up north.
Sorry, first and last time I’ll inject sports rivalries in this site.
#3 Comment By Ben On May 11, 2011 @ 3:15 pm
@Ian
Grow up.
No, seriously. Get over yourself.
#4 Comment By Mitch Beales On May 11, 2011 @ 6:29 pm
It’s always difficult for a bully when someone stands up to him. It seems unlikely that the harassment suit will be thrown out but if it is there may be grounds to replace it with a libel suit. Armstrong is setting an excellent example for bullied yout.
#5 Comment By Bron On May 11, 2011 @ 7:25 pm
Chill out, Ben. I read that as a bit of lightheartedness.
As for Shirvell, what a complete and utter freak. His obsession belies his own issues.
#6 Comment By Linnea On May 11, 2011 @ 9:00 pm
Hypocrisy, thy name is Andrew Shirvell.
#7 Comment By Reynardine On May 12, 2011 @ 6:27 am
And yet, if anybody “looks like one”, it’s Shirvell.
#8 Comment By Ruslan Amirkhanov On May 12, 2011 @ 8:51 am
Shirvell sounds like he is a victim; he seems to be stuck in a closet and can’t get the door open.
#9 Comment By CM On May 12, 2011 @ 8:53 am
Perfect example of the tongue-in-cheek definition of “chutzpah”: killing your parents and then asking the court for mercy because you’re an orphan.
#10 Comment By Kooky Kitizen On May 12, 2011 @ 10:33 am
The dog that barks the loudest are the guilty ones. Mr. Shirvell is a moron and a half. People like Shirvell are evil and dangerous
#11 Comment By Horace Gaims On May 12, 2011 @ 12:00 pm
All this hoo-haw about the so-called homosexual agenda is mere hogwash wince it is now well-known that each person’s sexuality is a matter of his/her physical inheritance. My proposed course of action is live and let live.
#12 Comment By Martha On May 12, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
This guy is so sick and twisted, my goodness. His actions and verbage make him the pervert.
#13 Comment By Mrs. Tarquin Biscuitbarrel On May 12, 2011 @ 12:31 pm
Shirvell makes me want to put on a ruffly mom-apron, subject him to a severe scolding, take away his allowance… and just slap his ferret-like face.
GO WOLVERINES!
#14 Comment By Bill On May 12, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
RIGHT ON Ms. Biscuitbarrell! ;>)
#15 Comment By Terry Washington On May 12, 2011 @ 12:59 pm
Reminds of the late KIenneth Williams’s cry in “Carry On In Rome”-infamy, infamy, they’ve all just got it in-fa-my!”
#16 Comment By Ruslan Amirkhanov On May 12, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
If you’ve never seen Shirvell on TV, you owe it to yourself to watch him. As this article implies, I never would have heard of him were it not for his insane rantings about one guy.
#17 Comment By Paul On May 12, 2011 @ 1:44 pm
Shirvell strikes me as a classic example of the prototypical homophobe – a self-hating gay person who is in desperate denial.
I hope he seeks treatment, and eventually learns to accept his true identity.
#18 Comment By Eddie On May 12, 2011 @ 2:14 pm
You know, these people are trying REALLY hard to find gay people of mating age and trying to get their attention (hint hint).
#19 Comment By MrsCaptJack On May 12, 2011 @ 3:30 pm
I think Ruslan’s right. He’s stuck in the closet and can’t seem to see the latch in the dark.
And an additional “right on!” to Mrs. Biscuitbarrel.
#20 Comment By Robert McLernon On May 12, 2011 @ 6:26 pm
“OMG, I’m a victim.”
What an idiot
How do people get so far divorced from reality?
#21 Comment By Clay Williams On May 12, 2011 @ 6:52 pm
This guy Shirvell strikes me as one who was rejected somewhere in his past, was attracted to Armstrong to no avail, and decided to do whatever he could to destroy anyone he perceived to be “not normal”. A gay sex life is no different than a “straight” one. We want sex, companionship and a loving relationship that is treasured, and nutured by doing for each other. Someone please explain to me what the hell is wrong about this? (No Revs, no Drs, no Fathers or other pseudo-saints need comment).
#22 Comment By Chuck On May 12, 2011 @ 11:16 pm
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Shirvell’s so deep in the closet, he’s finding Christmas presents!
#23 Comment By Ruslan Amirkhanov On May 13, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
He’s so deep in the closet he’s having an adventure in Narnia.
#24 Comment By Frederick Furreal On May 14, 2011 @ 11:08 am
Listen up Chuck and Ruslan… You guys are funny as hell! :D
#25 Comment By Linnea On May 14, 2011 @ 4:17 pm
I agree with Frederick! LOL!
#26 Comment By Cheryl On May 15, 2011 @ 10:46 am
It is no coincidence that Shirvel sought a prosecutorial positon. (assistant attorney general). Just wonder how many cases the loose cannon corrupted on the basis of perceived sexual orientation? He is scary!