“NYCGayDad” fights back! Rightwing conspiracy pundit retreats in the face of defamationcharges, takes down offensive videos about Brooklyn widower

June 17, 2024 – José Rolón, an award-winning social media personality who goes by the handle @nycgaydad, is taking on a right-wing internet talk show host who posted a hate-filled, defamatory tirade about the widowed dad.Rolón’s pro bono attorneys at Locke Lord LLP sent a cease-and-desist letter to Peters demanding that Stew Peters Network remove all videos that mention Rolón or his children. Peters’ company quickly capitulated; within days the videos were taken down.

“This is a win, not just for me and for my family, but for anyone who has been unfairly targeted by right-wingers using hate for entertainment,” said Rolón. “We have to stand up to these bullies and trolls. Free speech doesn’t mean you are free to say anything you want just to get clicks and views. Hate shouldn’t be a business model.”

Wikipedia describes Peters as a “white nationalist,” “Holocaust denier,” “conspiracy theorist,” known for his “anti-LGBTQ, antisemitic, and white supremacist beliefs.”

On February 23rd, Rolón woke up to discover that his social media accounts had been tagged by Peters in an hour-long video in which he ranted about homosexuality and, without a shred of evidence, accused Rolón of sexually abusing his own children. Peters also tagged the New York Police Department and pressured the agency to investigate Rolón.

Even worse, Peters said Rolón should be “met at the gallows,” leading some of his followers to post threatening suggestions about how they would execute the father of three. Instagram shut down Peters’ account, but the video proliferated on Rumble and other platforms, garnering hundreds of ugly comments and threats. Peters also published photos of the children and other information that could easily lead his followers to the family’s Brooklyn home.

“Most of our videos and social media posts are fun and light-hearted,” says Rolón. “They show the joy and challenges of being a single LGBTQ+ dad. I couldn’t wrap my brain around why Peters decided to target me and my family. It was terrifying to think that the people who posted threatening comments could easily show up where we live and where my children go to school.”

Rolón has been a single dad for virtually all of the children’s lives; his husband died shortly after their son was born and while their surrogate was pregnant with twin girls. Sharing both the challenges and the joys of single parenthood, his entertaining and uplifting posts have garnered him over half a million followers, as well as several awards for being a champion for the LGBTQ+ community.

When he discovered Peters’ video, Rolón was stunned and unsure what to do. But friends and followers urged him to fight back, and offered to support a legal effort. A reluctant Rolón opened a GoFundMe account, which almost overnight exceeded its goal. Touchingly, the largest contributions were from customers of Rolón’s wedding planning business.

“I was there for them on their happiest days, and they were there for me on one of my toughest,” Rolon said. “I am beyond grateful for all the support. It’s good to know I am not in this fight alone.” Rolón is assessing next steps.

“Yes, I wanted the videos about my family to come down, but is that enough? What about the next family he sets out to destroy?” said Rolón. “It’s time to hold these awful hate-mongers accountable for the things they say. I’m blessed with a platform to speak out and to fight back, and I am figuring out the best way to do that.”