Republican New York Gubernatorial Candidate Carl Paladino Celebrates Columbus Day By Telling Conservative Jewish Leaders There Is “Nothing To Be Proud Of In Being A Dysfunctional Homosexual;” He Adds That Children Should Not Be “Brainwashed” Into Thinking Homosexual Is “Valid”

The angry, odd (or odd, angry) New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino Sunday said that there is “nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual,” the New York Times reports. Paladino, speaking in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, at a synagogue before an audience of Orthodox Jewish leaders, emphasised that he is opposed to gay marriage, the Tea Party-endorsed candidate making the anti-gay statement as eight suspects in a horrific attack on a gay man and two gay teens were arraigned on multiple charges with hate crime stipulations. Reading from a prepared speech, he said of homosexuals “That’s not how God created us. I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashing into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option – it isn’t.” To applause he continued “I didn’t march in the gay parade this year – the gay pride parade this year. My opponent did and that’s not an example we should be showing our children.” Asked if his comments were appropriate given the current climate of not only the attacks, but of gay youth suicides, Paladino said he does not intend to “hurt homosexual people in any way.” A spokesperson for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo said that Paladino’s remarks revealed “a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality.”