NJ SPCA Chief Resigns After He’s Caught Sending Homophobic Texts

Photo from Asbury Park Press.

Victor “Buddy” Amato, chief of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), resigned yesterday after it was revealed that he sent a series of homophobic, transphobic and racist texts.

His misdoings were brought to light with the help of SPCA Officer Sue DesMarais. According to a press release sent out today, DesMarais stopped receiving work assignments when she originally complained about the texts. She then went to Garden State Equality (GSE) for support. The statewide civil rights organization connected her with the resources to put together a lawsuit, and shared her story with BuzzFeed, who exposed Amato in a post yesterday afternoon.

The press release states that Amato’s texts “compared Michelle Obama to an ape, made fun of slain black teenager’s Michael Brown’s death, and included a Christmas song with homophobic lyrics.”

“What he is putting out is there is the exact stereotype of why people hate police officers,” DesMarais told Buzzfeed. “He is putting this hate into the world.”

Following his resignation, Amato told the Asbury Park Press that the texts “were just a bunch of jokes … going back and forth between a bunch of the guys” and that they reached a person who wasn’t supposed to get them.

Garden State Equality applauds DesMarais’s moves. “Sue DesMarais saw injustice, acted, and is a hero,” said Executive Director Andrea Bowen. “This is a model for how LGBT activists can battle the connected evils of homophobia, transphobia, and racism. Bring bigotry to light.”

More on the story here.