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PoliticsQuiet 4d · day 4

Peltola denies anti-gay slur allegation in New York Times investigation

Alaska Democrat and pro-LGBTQ+ Senate candidate faces claims from four former staffers of using offensive language.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 1d ago2 pieces1 likes & upvotes MastodonNewswires

What to know

  • A New York Times investigation found four former staffers witnessed Peltola use an anti-gay slur during workplace incidents; her campaign denies this claim.
  • The campaign acknowledges Peltola used an ableist slur and attributes her behavior to grief from her husband's and mother's deaths in 2023.
  • The controversy affects Peltola's pro-LGBTQ+ positioning as she faces Republican Dan Sullivan in a pivotal November Senate race where Democrats need net gains for majority control.

“At the time of their passing, Mary was parenting kids through their own grief, serving full-time in the US House of Representatives thousands of miles from home, and running a competitive re-election campaign all while shouldering the enormous burden of grief.”

Harry Child, Campaign spokesperson · PinkNews ↗

Mary PeltolaMary Peltola Alaska Democratic Senate candidateHarry Child Peltola campaign spokespersonDan Sullivan Republican U.S. Senator, Peltola's opponentNew York Times Investigative outlet

Peltola denies anti-gay slur allegation in New York Times investigation
thepinknews.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in one hour at Sep 25, 4 AM; 2 pieces over 4 days (1 article · 1 post) Sep 25, 4 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 25, 5 AM — quietSep 25, 6 AM — quietSep 25, 7 AM — quietSep 25, 8 AM — quietSep 25, 9 AM — quietSep 25, 10 AM — quietSep 25, 11 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 25, 12 PM — quietSep 25, 1 PM — quietSep 25, 2 PM — quietSep 25, 3 PM — quietSep 25, 4 PM — quietSep 25, 5 PM — quietSep 25, 6 PM — quietSep 25, 7 PM — quietSep 25, 8 PM — quietSep 25, 9 PM — quietSep 25, 10 PM — quietSep 25, 11 PM — quietSep 26, 12 AM — quietSep 26, 1 AM — quietSep 26, 2 AM — quietSep 26, 3 AM — quietSep 26, 4 AM — quietSep 26, 5 AM — quietSep 26, 6 AM — quietSep 26, 7 AM — quietSep 26, 8 AM — quietSep 26, 9 AM — quietSep 26, 10 AM — quietSep 26, 11 AM — quietSep 26, 12 PM — quietSep 26, 1 PM — quietSep 26, 2 PM — quietSep 26, 3 PM — quietSep 26, 4 PM — quietSep 26, 5 PM — quietSep 26, 6 PM — quietSep 26, 7 PM — quietSep 26, 8 PM — quietSep 26, 9 PM — quietSep 26, 10 PM — quietSep 26, 11 PM — quietSep 27, 12 AM — quietSep 27, 1 AM — quietSep 27, 2 AM — quietSep 27, 3 AM — quietSep 27, 4 AM — quietSep 27, 5 AM — quietSep 27, 6 AM — quietSep 27, 7 AM — quietSep 27, 8 AM — quietSep 27, 9 AM — quietSep 27, 10 AM — quietSep 27, 11 AM — quietSep 27, 12 PM — quietSep 27, 1 PM — quietSep 27, 2 PM — quietSep 27, 3 PM — quietSep 27, 4 PM — quietSep 27, 5 PM — quietSep 27, 6 PM — quietSep 27, 7 PM — quietSep 27, 8 PM — quietSep 27, 9 PM — quietSep 27, 10 PM — quietSep 27, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 26Sep 27yesterdaynow · 5:35 AM ET
  1. 1

    Opponent Dan Sullivan calls reported behavior "sad" and "disturbing"

    Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Peltola's opponent in the November election, characterized the Times report as concerning.

  2. background

    Peltola's campaign denies anti-gay slur claim but acknowledges ableist slur — Campaign spokesperson Harry Child stated Peltola never used the anti-gay slur but acknowledged she used and regretted using an ableist slur. Child attributed her behavior to grief and said she maintains positive relationships with staff across her 30-year public service.

  3. 2

    New York Times reports slur allegations from former staffers

    The Times interviewed nine former staff members, four of whom reported witnessing Peltola use an anti-gay slur over the years, sometimes directed at staff. The report included references to text messages and photos reviewed by the publication.

    1. 1 outlet Pro-LGBTQ+ Senate candidate Mary Peltola denies using anti-gay slur around staff

      first by PinkNews, 3d ago

  4. background

    Peltola's husband and mother die — Mary Peltola experiences major personal losses. Her campaign would later cite this bereavement as context for workplace behavior in 2023.