Michigan official attacks gay student body president in blog

Soon after University of Michigan students elected their first openly gay student body president this spring, a Michigan assistant attorney general started Chris Armstrong Watch, a blog to monitor the student leader's every move.

Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell, a Michigan alum, accuses Armstrong of being "a dangerous homosexual 'rights' extremist," among other things. Shirvell chronicles Armstrong's dating life, posts video taken outside the student's house, writes about Armstrong's family and follows the student's friends on Facebook. The first blog post features a photo of Armstrong overlaid with a rainbow flag and a swastika, plus the word "resign."

The state official is demanding that the student official resign. Students are demanding that the state official lose his job.

Earlier this week, Armstrong responded to these attacks by reading a statement at an assembly meeting, the Michigan Daily reported: "I will not back down. I will not flinch. I will not falter. I will not succumb to any unwarranted attacks. What I will do is I will carry on with the utmost pride and vindication."

Shirvell appeared on "Anderson Cooper 360" on CNN Wednesday night and said, "I have no problem with the fact that Chris is a homosexual. I have a problem with the fact that he's advancing a radical homosexual agenda."

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox scolded Shirvell for his criticism of the student body president, but said in a statement that "all state employees have a right to free speech outside working hours," the Detroit Free Press reported. He also appeared on Anderson Cooper's show to discuss the issue.

In a staff editorial, the Michigan Daily demanded that Shirvell be removed from office:

Shirvell's increasingly extreme actions of discrimination aren't the result of a lapse in judgment. His behavior does not stem from immaturity. It stems from hatred. And this type of hatred makes Shirvell unsuitable to remain a government official. It will affect his ability to objectively interpret laws -- which is the job of the attorney general's office. It's unacceptable that Cox hasn't dismissed a member of his staff who is so blatantly bigoted.