AP Interview: Ousted tea party leader seeks return

AP Interview: Ousted tea party leader seeks return

MATT GOURAS,Associated Press Writer

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana tea party association leader ousted over an anti-gay exchange on Facebook says he wants his leadership post back.

The Big Sky Tea Party Association fired Tim Ravndal Sunday after learning of his online comments about same-sex couples made in July. The post spurred an exchange that appeared to joke about the 1998 beating death of a gay college student in Wyoming.

Ravndal denies he was making a connection to Matthew Shepard's killing. Ravndal tells The Associated Press he wants his leadership post because he believes the group is headed in the right direction.

A board vote will likely place next week on reinstating Ravndal's membership, but one board member says bringing Ravndal back as the group's president is out of the question.

HELENA — The Montana tea party association leader ousted over an anti-gay exchange on Facebook says he wants his leadership post back.

The Big Sky Tea Party Association fired Tim Ravndal Sunday after learning of his online comments about same-sex couples made in July. The post spurred an exchange that appeared to joke about the 1998 beating death of a gay college student in Wyoming.

Ravndal denies he was making a connection to Matthew Shepard's killing. Ravndal tells The Associated Press he wants his leadership post because he believes the group is headed in the right direction.

A board vote will likely place next week on reinstating Ravndal's membership, but one board member says bringing Ravndal back as the group's president is out of the question.