Me, Homophobic? Never!

Carl Paladino, the Republican candidate for the position of governor of New York, has already drawn attention for having transmitted to some friends a few emails containing racist, sexist and pornographic images and videos. Since yesterday, he has also been accused by his Democratic adversary, Andrew Cuomo, of giving certain homophobic speeches. I’ll cite an extract from a speech that the Buffalo businessman had given before Orthodox Jewish leaders in Brooklyn.

“I just think my children, and your children, will be much better off, and much more successful getting married and raising a family. And I don’t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.”

In his speech, Paladino, a novice politician who has support from the Tea Party, also accused Cuomo, the current minister of justice* in New York, of having participated in the Gay Pride Parade last year. According to an article on Newsday.com, he had nevertheless chosen to omit this sentence, which was included in his original written text:

“There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.”

Andrew Cuomo** reacted with the following:

“Mr. Paladino’s remarks demonstrate a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality. These comments along with other views he has espoused make it clear that he is way out of the mainstream and is unfit to represent New York.”

A spokesperson for Paladino defended the Republican candidate in declaring that “Carl Paladino is not a homophobe, and neither is the Catholic Church.” He added that the majority of New Yorkers share his opinion, proven by a poll on the subject held by the candidate’s team. As for Paladino, he has also rejected the accusation of homophobia before journalists, specifying that they would lie in a shameful fashion, by letting people believe that he had wanted to “hurt homosexual people in any way.”

Paladino’s declaration follows a series of attacks or incidents against homosexual victims in the New York region.

*Editor’s Note: Andrew Cuomo is currently New York state’s attorney general.

**Editor’s Note: This statement, attributed here to Andrew Cuomo, was actually made by Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto.