BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Tim Ravndal's role as president for the Big Sky Tea Party was short lived.

Just one month after being elected, an online exchange forced the board to make some changes.

"We have in our bylaws ...removing someone who says inappropriate things that might reflect upon us," said Roger Nummerador, board member and former president.

The decision stems from an anti-gay marriage comment that Ravndal posted on his Facebook page on July 23, 2010.

One Facebook user commented saying "I think fruits are decorative. Hang up where they can be seen and appreciated. Call Wyoming for display instructions."

Ravndal then responded, "Where can I get that Wyoming printed instruction manual."

Speculation among online bloggers is that the comments are in reference to the 1998 killing of Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who was beaten and tied to a fence because he was gay.

Board member and former president, Roger Nummerdor, says that this does not reflect the group.

"There's a lot of people that want it to reflect on us ...it shouldn't," said Nummerdor. "It was him speaking on a personal Facebook, because he was a president of our association, I think it will reflect for a time negatively to some people."

Nummerdor said they are about small government and not about taking sides on social issues.

Political professor at Montana State University Sara Rushing says once a party matures and grows, there comes a time where they will have to take a stance.

"They're like libertarians and they are social conservatives who may have set aside their issues temporarily to get behind the small government message, but those people haven't set aside their beliefs, so if this movement is going to go forward, social issues are probably going to be a part of it," said Rushing.

And in a world of Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks, it's hard to keep your personal beliefs private.

Nummerador says for now they are trying to keep their mission simple and keep out any distractions.