Former legislator Glen Maxey says he was motivated to write about governor’s alleged gay affairs by Perry’s hypocrisy; that he has moved to a ‘safe house’ following threats
TELLING THE TALE | After a story planned for the Huffington Post on Rick Perry’s alleged same-sex affairs was nixed, gay former Texas Rep. Glen Maxey decided to tell the story himself. (Associated Press)
David Webb | Contributing Writer
davidwaynewebb@yahoo.com
AUSTIN — Life is changing quickly for gay former Texas Rep. Glen Maxey since the publication last week of his memoir chronicling a five-month investigation of Gov. Rick Perry’s alleged homosexual liaisons with a subordinate, steady boyfriends, anonymous sex partners, a hustler and others.
Prior to the book’s debut Maxey, who returned to activism after leaving the Legislature, had stocked his Austin apartment with food and other supplies, anticipating a period of time when he might want to stay out of sight.
But after his exposé attracted national media attention and outrage from Perry’s conservative religious supporters, Maxey decided to go further underground.
“Got some death threats of the crank level, but have moved to a safe house until it calms down,” Maxey told Dallas Voice in a message via Facebook following a telephone interview over the weekend.
Maxey, who is the only openly gay politician to have ever served in the Texas Legislature, sent the message as he prepared for a Univision interview Monday morning, Dec. 19, and a KLBJ drive-time radio interview that afternoon.
Gov. Rick Perry
The “calm before the storm” that Maxey had talked about in the telephone interview apparently has now erupted into a major disturbance.
Head Figure Head – The Search for the Hidden Life of Rick Perry is the product of Maxey’s work with a reporter from The Huffington Post and the frustration he felt when publisher Arianna Huffington killed what the former legislator claims was a completed story approved by editors and ready for publication.
When it became clear the story would never be published, Maxey started writing his book.
In his book Maxey does not name any of the sources he cites that claim knowledge of Perry’s alleged sexual escapades, nor does he
name the Huffington Post reporter, whom he refers to only as the national journalist.
The book was at first only available online, but now is available as a paperback through Amazon.com.
Maxey said other publications were interested in talking to him and his sources about the allegations of extramarital homosexual pursuits by Perry, but both he and the men who claimed to know the governor in the biblical sense were reluctant to start over with a new reporter.
“That was a mountain I couldn’t climb again, and the other folks had the same reaction,” Maxey said. “It’s difficult to get people to talk about sex in general, it’s more difficult to get them to tell their story to a reporter, and it’s an even bigger climb when it’s Rick Perry they are talking about.”
Maxey disputes Huffington’s claim to Politico that the story was never ready for publication, and that there was no real story. The activist claims the publisher killed the story after Perry’s campaign hired famed libel lawyer Lin Wood, and the lawyer wrote a letter to the Huffington Post threatening to sue if the story was published.
Huffington denied that the lawyer’s letter had anything to do with her decision.
But, Maxey said, “Arianna Huffington told a bald-faced lie.”
No response has been received to an e-mail sent by the Dallas Voice to Huffington Post’s media relations department seeking comment on Maxey’s claim.
Maxey concedes a high-priced call boy who claimed to have engaged in sex with Perry and another man for hire in hotel rooms several times never went on the record, even though celebrity attorney Gloria Allred reportedly was signed on to represent him when the story hit. An affidavit signed by the prostitute — whom
Maxey said was feeling “traumatized” by the prospect of going public with his allegations — might have convinced Huffington to go with the story. But the activist maintained there was already enough documentation to justify publication.
Maxey claimed Huffington exercised a “double standard” when she decided against publication of the Perry story, probably on the advice of AOL parent company corporate attorneys. If the story had involved extramarital heterosexual activities, the story would have run, he claimed.
In late August, the Huffington Post reporter, who made several trips to Austin and had contacted the Dallas Voice for information earlier in the investigation, wrote in an e-mail seeking clarification that he was putting finishing touches on the story before it ran.
Some political observers have speculated Perry’s drastic drop in the national opinion polls from frontrunner status might have contributed to Huffington’s decision to kill the story.
Another source familiar with the investigation said it appeared the publisher — for reasons only she knows — was never interested in outing Perry, and the story will never be published. The Huffington Post scribe reportedly indicated he had no problem with Maxey’s book, and that he thought Maxey needed to write it.
For his part, Maxey said that he is not worried about Gov. Perry filing a lawsuit against him, and he doubts anyone from Perry’s camp
will ever contact him. The former legislator also doubts that he would lose a lawsuit if Perry filed one against him.
“Everything I said in this book is my opinion,” Maxey said. “I believe Rick Perry is homosexual or had relations with gay men. The evidence points to that conclusion.”
Maxey said it is unlikely Perry would file a lawsuit against him because if he did, the governor and his wife, Anita, would be forced to answer questions under oath about the widespread rumor that she caught Perry and another man having sex in the governor’s mansion six years ago.
At the time, a story was widely circulated that the governor’s wife had checked into the luxurious Driskill Hotel in Austin and hired a prominent divorce attorney.
The story became so widespread that Perry and his wife — who typically avoid one-on-one media interviews — sat down with an Austin American-Statesman reporter to refute the tale.
“If Perry was bold or stupid enough to file any action against me, my lawyers would welcome the opportunity,” Maxey said. “I don’t think Perry would take that risk.”
There has been no response to a telephone request by the Dallas Voice for comment from the Perry campaign.
Maxey said that although he is gaining widespread attention for the book, his only motive in writing it was to expose the alleged hypocrisy of Gov. Perry, who is recognized as the most virulently outspoken anti-gay governor to ever hold office in Texas. The governor’s claim to conservative religious leaders after he announced for the presidency in August that there was nothing in his personal background to embarrass them rankled him, the Maxey said.
“How amazingly hypocritical he was, claiming there would be no scandal,” Maxey said. “It was astonishing to me. That was the impetus for writing the book.”
Maxey said at the time he wrote the book there were only a dozen men known who had claimed to have had sex with Perry. Now, there are twice that many, and new tips come in daily, he said.
“I went into publishing this with no real expectations,” Maxey said. “The story may get retold in a more comprehensive way, and people can make their own decisions about it. I think the rest of this will play out in the public discussion.”
Maxey said one thing is for certain: Perry will be a bigger enemy to the state’s LGBT community than he ever has before if his bid for the presidency continues on its failure track and he returns to Texas. The activist said he wouldn’t be surprised if Perry attempted to call the Texas Legislature into emergency session on an anti-LGBT initiative to pacify his conservative religious supporters.
“When you see a snake in the grass, you chop off its head,” Maxey said. “I believe this snake is coming back to Texas. He is going to be a meaner snake. He will have something to prove. He will take it out on gay people.”
And that threat is likely to keep Maxey, the author and the activist, busy on his anti-Perry campaign for a very long time.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 23, 2011.
Glen Maxey is telling the truth 100% The truth about Rick Perry is far worse. Maxey only knows the TIP of the iceberg, as do I.
Google “Robert Morrow Stuffed Suits.com” for my articles on Rick Perry’s decades of rampaging bisexual adultery.
Rick Perry and his San Francisco Values
Strippers, hookers, gay sex with closeted homosexual men, gay prostitutes, cocaine, adultery, a lifetime of sodomy, fornication, arrogance, entitlement, recklessness, and whopping doses of Hypocrisy& Lying
user on the inside.
Hey Mr. Webb. I’m about to self publish a book through Amazon.com about an alleged sex and human sacrifice secret society operating out of the basement in the State Capitol Building. I’ve interviewed several reliable witnesses (whose names, naturally, I can’t reveal out of concerns for their safety) but who swear that Ann Richards introduced the then preschool aged Bush twins to sex acts involving boa constrictors with catering provided by Stubbs Barbeque. Senator John Cornyn is heading the group now.
My sources are reliable and the evidence I’ve compiled through the years is concrete. However, I trust you will understand I can never let you or anyone else have this information for fear my enemies will try and kill me. You’ll just have to take my word for it. Will you write a story about me and my book too? Will ya, huh, will ya Mr. Webb?
Seriously, maybe Ms. Huffington killed the story because she recognized bullshit when she saw it. I admire your work Mr. Webb, but you don’t do anyone a service when you pander to this kind of garbage. Geez!
The Mansion was torched because Anita wouldn’t sleep there after Goodhair was caught with his pants down.
@Jon: Glen Maxey is a former Texas legislator and a longtime gay activist. If he writes a book it is news and should be reported. If you wrote a book, I doubt that it would merit a story. The number of people who believe and have always believed the stories about Perry is far greater than you might imagine.
Rick Perry , karma is going to get him, well I guess it already has… He is so obsessed with gay people . He knows nothing about our economy, world affairs, or history . He has to talk about something,,,, He and Anita use the name of God for their bigotry and hatred! Takes more to be a Christian than simple say you are…pretty sure most Americans get that part! Sadly some dont! This man is mentally unstable ! I just wish he would not come back to Texas …I Say we challenge him to take a mental evaluation before allowing him to finish his term as Governor……early dementia has certainly been apparent. (no offense to anyone with dementia)
@David Webb. Holy cow…my eyes are rolling so far into the back of my head reading your response, I think they’re stuck. First of all, your statement about all these people believing the stories about Rick Perry is absolutely ludicrous. So what if people believe the stories about Perry? Are you telling me that a bunch of people believing in something makes it true? Millions of Christians believe that homosexuality is an abomination, and yet you and I know that their beliefs don’t make it a fact. To quote Joan Cusack’s line spoken to Melanie Griffin in the film Working Girl: “Sometimes I sing and dance around the house in my underwear. Doesn’t make me Madonna. Never will.” Need I go on?
Now to the meat and potatoes:
What I gather from your response, Mr. Webb, is that you would endorse me and my book made up of defamatory and unproven accusations against a public figure—just like you are doing with Mr. Maxey—if I were a figure of notoriety. I suppose you’re entitled, but I’m not sure that’s a good thing.
I acknowledge…technically…that your article was reporting on an event: the publication of Mr. Maxey’s book (and the who, what, where, why), and not necessarily on the merits of the information contained therein. Still, I can argue that you played fast and loose with the standards set forth by the Society of Professional Journalists. You managed to fail points under each of the four basic tenants of independence, harm limitation, factual reporting, and accountability. You never substantially challenged Mr. Maxey’s allegations. You kissed ass and gave him two thumbs up and a pat on the back.
Any responsible writer, professional journalist, or high school newspaper editor knows that evidence must be double checked and stand up to independent verification. Witnesses’ statements need to be corroborated and differentiated from hearsay.
Mr. Maxey , as far as I know, is not a trained or experienced journalist. Therefore, one can loosely “forgive” his irresponsibility and ignorance when it comes to reporting. You, on the other hand, are an experienced journalist. You know better. Someone with your experience should understand very well that many people, unfortunately, do believe everything they read; and a percentage of the Voice readers will interpret your article as evidence Mr. Maxey’s book is truth told perfectly.
At the very least, I think you owe it to your readers to write a follow up and provide some transparency as to where you intended, if at all, to draw the line between advocacy and objective reporting.
I am an out, proud, liberal, gay man. This is not about Perry, hypocrisy, LGBT rights, Glen Maxey, or sexuality. I just abhor yellow/tabloid journalism!
@Jon: I didn’t endorse the Maxey book. I reported about its publication. I gave Perry’s camp an opportunity to respond. They apparently chose not to do so, as is Perry’s representatives habit when they know the reporter writes for an LGBT audience. Many people believe the rumors about Perry. That doesn’t mean I do, but this news story wasn’t about what I think. The story is about a book being published by a former state legislator about an investigation of the rumors concerning a presidential candidate. Even Maxey is quoted as saying it is up to the public to make their own decisions about it. I think the Dallas Voice audience is more sophisticated than you give it credit for being. I don’t think everyone is going to believe the rumors just because I wrote a news story about the book.
I worked at KLBJ as a producer around the time this rumor was circulating. I can tell you that someone kept calling the radio station newsroom and control room and bringing up this rumor, insisting that we should follow up and report on it. I felt then — and I still feel today — that this smelled like somebody with an agenda trying to get us to legitimize the rumor by putting something about it on the air. Unless and until one of these so-called gay lovers comes forward with some sort of irrefutable proof, I think this is bogus. It’s interesting that Maxey’s assertions about something that so many people allegedly know to be fact has never been substantiated…and frankly, with Perry running for the presidency, I suspect that if there were any substance to this, we would have heard it by now.