Ohio Mayor Resigns Over Alleged Gay Slurs

Mary McAngus, the mayor of the Village of Pomeroy, Ohio, resigned on Saturday amid allegations that she created a hostile work environment for a gay police officer by repeatedly calling him "queer" in front of his colleagues, reports West Virginia's WSAZ NewsChannel 3.

The officer, Kyle Calendine, has been on the force just over five months, and said the mayor was involved in his hiring, but turned hostile after the officer began work.

"She was even in the hiring process and she seemed fine," Calendine told WSAZ. "A few weeks later, you know, she finds out I'm gay and tries to get me fired because she doesn't like who I am outside of work."

Pomeroy Police Chief Mark Proffitt is standing by Calendine, and submitted a six-page statement to the city council where the police chief claimed the mayor said, "I don't like a queer working for the village. I might be old-fashioned, but I don't like it."

Proffitt told WSAZ that his department does not tolerate discrimination of any kind. "I believe in integrity," Proffitt said. "I believe in fairness for everybody. And not to discriminate against anybody for any reason."

All told, eight police employees have filed discrimination complaints against McAngus, according to WSAZ. The city council is expected to accept McAngus' resignation in a meeting Monday.

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