Senate staffer probed in homophobic slur

ATLANTA, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., is investigating an accusation that a member of his staff posted a threatening anti-gay message online, his office said.

The homophobic comment was posted as part of an Internet discussion on the debate over the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy forbidding gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces.

A commenter who identified himself only as "Jimmy" posted a message on the Joe.My.God blog saying "All faggots must die." Joseph Jervis of New York, the author of the blog, said a search using the Internet Protocol address associated with the post traced its origin to the neighborhood of Chambliss's office in Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday.

"We have seen the allegations and are moving quickly to understand the facts." Chambliss spokeswoman Bronwyn Lance Chester told the newspaper. "This office has not and will not tolerate any activity of the sort alleged."

Chester said if the investigation substantiates the allegation, "we will take the appropriate steps."

The offending comment was posted shortly after U.S. Senate Republicans filibustered to prevent debate on a defense appropriations bill containing language that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Jervis told the newspaper it didn't take long for his readers to determine the origin of the comment.

"Among the fields in which gay people are over-represented is the IT field," he said.