Anti-Gay R.I. Lawmaker with Outstanding Warrants Arrested

A Rhode Island lawmaker who threatened to cut funding to a high school over its Gay Straight Alliance was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 18, on a charge of driving with a suspended license and failure to appear in court in neighboring Massachusetts.

State Rep. Dan Gordon (R-Portsmouth) had a warrant out for his arrest in Massachusetts dating back to a 2008 incident in which he allegedly attempted to flee from a police officer.

Court records from Fall River and Taunton show that Gordon, 42, has a lengthy arrest record.

Gordon spent more than five months in the Bristol County House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Mass., on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and for assaulting and threatening to kill his girlfriend. Gordon, an ex-Marine, was arrested on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and two other weapons charges while living in Taunton, Mass., in Sept. 1996, according to the Providence Journal. He served four months in jail in that case in 1999.

Taunton police arrested Gordon in Nov. 2001 and charged him with assaulting his girlfriend and threatening to kill her. Gordon plead guilty to both charges and was ordered to serve 28 days in jail. He also received 18 months' probation and was barred from getting within 100 yards of his girlfriend or having any contact with her.

Fall River police arrested Gordon in May 2004 on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery after a woman called 911. Gordon also had a number of outstanding warrants in Falmouth, Mass., in July 2003 that included car theft and driving without a license.

Gordon occupies the seat previously held by John Loughlin, also a Republican, who ran (and lost) against then-Providence Mayor David Cicilline in the state's First Congressional District last year.

Despite criticism from House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence) and other local political leaders, Gordon has vowed not to resign from office. Gordon admitted to abusing alcohol and having suffered from post-traumatic stress as a result of his time in the military.

Gordon caused a firestorm of controversy last March when he condemned Gay Straight Alliances and threatened to cut funding to Tiverton High School over its GSA.

"I don't think we should be promoting anything whatsoever that has to do with sexuality... especially in a school that receives public funding," wrote Gordon on a local blog. "I don't think there would be much of a problem with bullying if students weren't flaunting their sexuality in school."

Gordon further railed against the GSA.

"And this is why if I have anything to say about it; Tiverton will lose school funding to local charter schools," said Gordon. "It doesn't matter if gay or straight, if sexual meet-up groups are being promoted in our schools rather than improving test scores, that school is failing. Is it really more important for our children to get 'sexed-up', than learning advanced math?"

WRNI further reported that Gordon "also characterized the group as a 'sexual meet-up group."

The reaction to Gordon's position drew a torrent of angry comments on his Facebook page. Throughout the controversy, however, Gordon maintained he is not homophobic.

"I did fail in regards to this thing and perhaps not communicating fully," Gordon told EDGE in April. "It seems as though my comments have been latched on as being anti-gay, which is the furthest thing from the truth."

The House's Republican caucus recently expelled Gordon for making inflammatory remarks about other GOP legislators.

Gordon will be arraigned in Providence District Court on Oct. 4.