Donna Red Wing, of LGBT group OneIowa, answers 'thug' slur by right-wing radio host Steve Deace

Deace, currently heard on about 45 radio stations, is described by Christian News Service as "considered by many to be one of the best talents from the limited stock of today’s young talkers. He is widely respected as a political columnist, commentator and author." If that tribute doesn't impress you, remember that Donald Trump considers Deace to be "one of the rising stars in conservative media."

Steve Deace, former extremist WHO talk show host and current extremist USA Radio Network host says the head of Iowa's biggest gay advocacy group, One Iowa, is a straight-up "thug." That would be Donna RedWing, who begs to differ and does at the bottom of this post. Deace, an apparent Bryan Fischer wannabe, said this:

For the Mennonite crime of telling two homosexuals that they could not get married at their establishment, Gortz Haus Gallery owners Betty and Richard Odgaard have become the latest in a long line of Christians for whom the First Amendment somehow does not count.
...They will no longer host any weddings whatsoever in their building which once served as a Lutheran Church, nor will they cater weddings or provide flowers for them in order to avoid future accusations of discrimination. The Odgaards also opened up their wallet to the tune of $5,000 to settle the nonsense “civil rights complaint” they were bum-rushed with.
     This begs the question: is there any social force more powerful today than the homosexual temper tantrum?
     It can commit an act of theft like this and still get away with justifying its actions in dulcet tones like those used by Donna Red Wing, the executive director of LGBTQABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP advocacy group One Iowa.
     Red Wing told the Des Moines Register she was “really sad that their beautiful facility is no longer going to have any weddings at all” and that she respects the Odgaards' religious beliefs.
     Right. Fredo Corleone just called and said don’t fall for it. If you read that and found yourself thinking it’s the kind of thing a mob boss says after having just put a horse’s head in your bed, your gay pride parade translator is working just fine.
      Red Wing is a thug, pure and simple.

Here, in part is Donna Red Wing's response, published on OneIowa's web site: 

     “Red Wing told the Des Moines Register she was ‘really sad that their beautiful facility is no longer going to have any weddings at all’ and that she respects the Odgaards’ religious beliefs.
     “If you read that and found yourself thinking it’s the kind of thing a mob boss says after having just put a horse’s head in your bed, your gay pride parade translator is working just fine.
     “Red Wing is a thug, pure and simple. Instead of a Tommy Gun, she has a decadent culture and soft-headed legal theory to use as her accomplices.”
     He is talking about me, and he is talking about you. Don’t let Steve Deace get away with this kind of damaging rhetoric. Help support the work that One Iowa does for the LGBT community.
     We are no stranger to absurd and hurtful histrionics. At a certain point, you just have to shrug it off. But here’s where I have a problem:

     Steve Deace holds a nationally syndicated radio talk show program. He speaks to thousands of folks about why he thinks LGBT people are “less than equal,” in addition to partnering with The Family Leader’s Bob Vander Plaats for a weekly podcast.
     Deace presents himself as a voice for conservatives in Iowa, but let me be clear–he does not represent all conservatives.
     We speak with conservatives every day about why they support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Iowans. And you know what they tell me? They tell me that they support equality because it’s the right thing to do. From GOP strategists Dave Kochel and Ken Mehlman to former Iowa Senator Jeff Angelo, the conservative case for LGBT equality has been made in our state, and it’s gaining momentum.
     Even those who stand against us on the issues would refrain from such personal attacks. Don’t let Steve Deace’s vitriolic words stamp out other conservative voices who stand with us in our support of equality.
     I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to let Deace’s wayward ramblings impinge on our work toward equality for LGBT Iowans and their families.
     Stand with us and support us in any way you can. We need you now more than ever.

     In solidarity,

     Donna Red Wing
     Executive Director, One Iowa