GOP Calls For Granby BOE Leaders To Resign; Gubernatorial Candidate Defends Them

GRANBY, CT — Two Granby Board of Education members are facing calls to resign over an alleged hot mic comment, but the state lawmaker discussed — who is running for governor — is defending them, and the board chair is now apologizing.

The Granby Republican Town Committee on Friday called for Board Secretary Liz Barlow and Board Chair Monica Logan to step down following a conversation captured on a live microphone before the Feb. 18 Board of Education meeting.

In the recording, Barlow can be heard referencing a text exchange with a friend about State Rep. Josh Elliott that included mention of a “gaydar alert.” Another comment is heard roughly 40 seconds later, though parts of the audio are unclear. The clip was shared on social media and quickly drew criticism.

Barlow and Logan have disputed the characterization of the remarks.

In a statement shared with WFSB-TV, Logan said the exchange was a private conversation before the meeting and had been misinterpreted.

“To be direct and unequivocal: neither Liz nor I made any homophobic or disparaging remarks,” Logan said. She said Barlow had referenced a discussion with a close friend “about a candidate for governor, Josh Elliott,” and whether he might be gay and “a strong voice for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Logan also said a separate portion of the audio involved her recounting a conversation with her son about a video involving the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and past cocaine use, and that it was unrelated to Elliott.

Elliott said he was not offended and does not support calls for their resignation.

“Liz and Monica are good friends and some of the strongest advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community,” Elliott said in a statement. “I wasn’t offended, I’m not offended, and I don’t want anyone else to be on my behalf. Let’s keep the focus on what matters.”

On Saturday, Logan issued a new statement to Patch apologizing for the exchange.

“Liz and I are genuinely sorry and apologize for the conversation we had prior to our meeting and we welcome speaking with anyone who felt we let down our community,” Logan wrote.

She also criticized those calling for their resignation, writing that “the people inciting this narrative of unprofessionalism and homophobia are the same people who accused us of ‘pushing a gay’ agenda and trying to ‘groom’ children.”

“This political retribution and defamation is unproductive — and not reflective of the good people in our town,” Logan added. “We are here to do the work voters asked us to do.”

Granby Community Television also addressed questions about the meeting video.

In a statement shared with WFSB-TV, GCTV’s station manager said raw footage is routinely deleted after an edited version of a meeting is posted on the station’s website.

Patch has reached out to the board members and local party officials for additional comment following the Republican Town Committee’s call for their resignation and will update this story if a response is received.