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The Big Sky Tea Party Association has removed its president, Tim Ravndal, after he posted controversial comments on Facebook.

The comments, dated July 23, 2010, surfaced right after he took office within the Tea Party. Ravndal and another Facebook user engaged in a discussion about homosexuality:

Tim Ravndal: “Marriage is between a man and a woman period! By giving rights to those otherwise would be a violation of the constitution and my own rights”

Keith Baker: “How dare you exercise your First Amendment Rights?”

Dennis Scranton: “I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions.”

Tim Ravndal: “@Kieth, OOPS I forgot this ain't America no more! @ Dennis, Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual?”

Dennis Scranton: “Should be able to get info Gazette archives. Maybe even an illustration. Go back a bit over ten years.”

The comments appear to be referring to the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming in 1998. Many believe that Shepard was killed because he was gay, and the incident became a rallying point for many in the gay community and their families and friends.

After Ravndal's comments got picked up by national blogs and local news outlets, he issued an apology on Facebook which has since drawn hundreds of responses.

"In sharing news about ACLU suing Montana on the gay marriage issue, I made a mistake and commented on a post that implied that I condone violence against another human being. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Those that know me understand and that is all that matters," Ravndal posted.

After the comments surfaced, the Big Sky Tea Party Association Board of Directors voted to remove Ravndal from leadership.

Former Tea Party Chairman Roger Nummerdor says four people voted to remove Ravndal, while one person abstained.

"We do not believe that any type of racial, sexual, or ethnicity bigotries are allowed in our rallies," Nummerdor adds.

Tea Party Secretary and Montana legislative candidate Kristi Allen-Gailushas told reporter Marnee Banks that in light of recent events she is stepping down from her involvement in the Tea Party.

She says she doesn't agree with the Board's decision to remove Ravndal because she believes that they didn't listen to his side of the story. "He doesn't condone killing people," Allen-Gailushas added.

She says her decision to remove herself from the Tea Party is not due to her own comment that she posted about the gay community.

In a recent Facebook post, she wrote, "The gay community wants a war... they've got one."

She later posted, "I didn't mean a literal gun war but a war of truth and the hypocrisy they espouse."

Allen-Gailushas says despite her decision to disassociate with the Tea Party, she is still running for MT House District 82.