I've just caught up this this thread and want to correct what I said in a rather garbled post. I commented that I hadn't seen comments from Bergdorf that incited violence. Baggs corrected me by quoting a comment from Bergdorf about gay bashing. Since yesterday, I've read a number of articles, including the Times article Baggs quotes here. Baggs, I agree with your views on this issue.
I'm stunned that some posters see Bergdorf's comments as possibly being banter between like minded people, which makes it all ok. It doesn't. So called "banter" between like minded people which is derogatory or abusive towards say gay, lesbian, black, ethnic, minority groups, women, people with various disabilities (etc) are rightly condemned.