Alabama lawmaker upsets real estate agents, gay activists

It’s not every day that a congressman simultaneously upsets gay activists and realtors.

But that’s exactly what Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) did when he recently (and allegedly) cracked a couple jokes that made people mad.

{mosads}In a speech to the Alabama Association of Realtors (AAR), Rogers allegedly said it was nice to be called “honey” and “sweetie” by a woman at an Alabama restaurant rather than a men’s room in Washington, D.C. He later said the nation’s capital is a cross between “Detroit and San Francisco,” according to a report on Al.com.

Equality Alabama, an LGBT group, quickly fired off a letter to Rogers, which stated the Detroit/San Francisco crack was “an obvious reference to Detroit’s racial makeup and San Francisco’s vibrant gay culture.”

The letter added, “Comments like these are racist, homophobic and hurtful, and they will not be tolerated.”

The AAR issued a statement distancing itself from Rogers without naming him: “… one of our speakers made some remarks that were inappropriate and offensive to some of our members. … Moving forward we will endeavor to prevent such inappropriate remarks at our events or meetings.”

So it doesn’t look like Rogers will be invited to next year’s conference.

But Equality Alabama did invite Rogers to the 16th annual Vigil for Victims of Hate and Violence in Montgomery, Ala., on the steps of the state Capitol.

There’s no word on whether Rogers will attend. His office didn’t respond to our request for comment.