Michigan Anti-Gay Assistant Attorney General Banned From University Of Michigan Campus; Personal Protection Order Also Issued Against Him

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Michigan assistant attorney general Andrew Shirvell has been banned from the University of Michigan campus, and that Chris Armstrong, the openly gay president of the Michigan Student Assembly, who has been the subject of hysteric attack by Shirvell via a personal blog, has filed a personal protection order against him. As well, the University of Michigan issued a statement of support Thursday for Armstrong that said the university “does not tolerate bigotry of any type.” Shirvell was issued the trespass warning September 14th, spokesperson for the University of Michigan police Diane Brown explaining that Shirvell is forbidden from coming onto any campus property, and that the order was issued had received a complaint “about him being a possible suspect in harassing or stalking behaviour.” Surprisingly, Shirvell is appealing the order. That order from Armstrong alleges that since being elected this past spring the assistant attorney general has verbally attacked him at campus events, called the office where Armstrong was completing a summer internship in Washington, D.C. and complained about him, followed Armstrong’s friends to events hoping to find Armstrong, and protested and took pictures outside Armstrong’s residence, an occurrence that has prompted a visit from police on more than one occasion. Armstrong said in his filing that Shirvell’s action “have been incredibly distressing” and “make me feel unsure about my own safety,” and that since he came to the University of Michigan believing it to be a safe, secure place for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students “His actions have not only threatened that, but have been an outright attack on my ability to live my life openly and be honest about who I am.” Attorney General Mike Cox, who is on record stating “Mr. Shirvell’s immaturity and lack of judgement outside the office are clear,” has to date rejected calls to fire the assistant attorney general, citing free speech, however Thursday Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, via Twitter, wrote that “If I was still Attorney General and Andrew Shirvell worked for me, he would have already been fired.”