Tony Lascari Gary Glenn

On the left is newly-appointed Midland Daily News Editor Tony Lascari. On the right is state Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Larkin Township, who recently issued an "agenda alert" on social media in response to news of Lascari's promotion.

(Courtesy and file photos)

Update: Michigan House Speaker Kevin Cotter weighs in on gay editor 'agenda alert' by Gary Glenn

MIDLAND, MI -- A Michigan state representative issued an "agenda alert" on social media in response to news that his hometown newspaper is appointing an openly gay man to the position of news editor.

State Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Larkin Township, posted links to the Midland Daily News' announcement Sunday, headlining both posts as an "agenda alert" in reference to what some call a "homosexual agenda."

The newspaper published a story Sunday, March 22, announcing Tony Lascari, who has worked as a reporter in Midland since 2005, has been named to the position of news editor. In the story, Lascari says he lives in Midland with his husband, Mark.

Read the Midland Daily News story about Lascari's promotion

Glenn said he believes the community has a right to hold the newspaper and its staffers accountable and to question anything that could influence how they "represent our community's values."

"I posted the paper's own report -- without comment or criticism -- except to alert readers to the reasonably observed possibility that this new position might be used to promote a political agenda or bias that's at odds with our community's values," he said.

Lascari said he has not been contacted by Glenn in connection with the issue, though he is aware of the state representative's posts on social media.

"I am aware that Michigan Rep. Glenn has issued an 'agenda alert' on Facebook and Twitter to let his supporters know about my marital status," he said. "I welcome him to contact me to speak about any topic at any time. In my new role as news editor at the Midland Daily News I look forward to helping my team produce quality stories that are accurate, interesting and important."

At 9:26 a.m. Sunday, March 22, Glenn sent out the following tweet:

Agenda Alert -- Midland Daily News' new news editor: political science major who "lives in Midland with (his)... http://t.co/nz4yJobcHO — Gary Glenn (@GaryGlennUS) March 22, 2015

The state representative also published a similar post on Facebook on Sunday, briefly summarizing the Midland Daily News post. In that summary, Glenn included the quote from Lascari about living in Midland with his husband.

Lascari is a graduate of Central Michigan University, where he double-majored in journalism and political science. He interned at Ludington Daily News before coming to work for the Midland newspaper.

The reporter said he will take the reins as news editor on May 1 from Managing Editor Ralph Wirtz, who will retire on April 30.

Glenn pointed to the fact that, in 2004, Midland County "voted overwhelmingly in favor" of the statewide proposal amending the Michigan Constitution to define marriage as between "one man and one woman" only.

According to records from the Midland County clerk, about 58.8 percent of Midland County voters supported the measure. Statewide, the proposal passed with about the same margin of success, with about 58.6 percent of Michigan voters marking "yes" on their ballots.

That fact, Glenn said, supports him questioning how the sexual orientation of the newspaper's new editor relates to the community's values.

"When it comes to holding people in positions of public influence accountable, the more public awareness, the better," he said.

Lascari published a column Tuesday, March 24, in response to the attention given to Glenn's posts on social media, headlined "My marriage is a non-issue in Midland."

Read Lascari's column

Glenn serves as president of the American Family Association of Michigan, a conservative religious organization that opposes what it calls the "homosexual agenda." He is also one of two co-authors of Michigan's Marriage Protection Amendment, which in 2004 enshrined a ban on same-sex marriage in the state's constitution.

Glenn frequently has voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage and has stood against attempts to add sexual orientation and gender identity to protected classes in anti-discrimination laws and policies across the state.

Mark LaChey, a Saugatuck attorney and chairman of the Democratic Party's LGBT and Allies Caucus, led a group of political activists calling itself "Gays against Gary Glenn" in opposition to Glenn in his November 2014 campaign for the Michigan House of Representatives.

LaChey called Glenn a "homophobic protagonist" and said his group was very concerned about his views on same-sex equality being "legitimized" if Glenn were to be elected to public office.

"Gary is nationally known as one of the most homophobic protagonists in the right-wing movement," he said.

A group of Saginaw Valley State University students recently protested Glenn outside of a public forum featuring the lawmaker on the statewide sales tax and road funding proposal. After leading chants like "2, 4, 6, 8, Gary Glenn is full of hate," protest leaders talked about their opposition to statements made by Glenn on issues ranging from gender identity and marriage equality to tax policy.

Glenn was elected by 98th District voters in November 2014 to his first term in the Michigan House of Representatives, replacing State Sen. Jim Stamas.

The 98th House District includes the city of Midland and Larkin, Lincoln, Homer, Midland, Lee and Jerome townships in southern Midland County and the cities of Pinconning and Auburn and Gibson, Mount Forest, Pinconning, Garfield, Fraser, Beaver and Williams townships in western and northern Bay County.

Mark Tower covers local government for MLive/The Saginaw News. Contact him at 989-284-4807, by email at mtower@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+.