Carl Paladino: Kids Shouldn’t Be ‘Brainwashed’ Into Thinking Being Gay Is ‘A Successful Option’
Flame-throwing Republican gubernatorial hopeful Carl Paladino today blasted “dysfunctional homosexuals” in an anti-gay diatribe in Borough Park, our Simone Weischelbaum and Ken Lovett report:
Paladino first was in Borough Park at the Karlsberg Synagogue on 53rd Street. His second was at Kohel Adas Kasho On Ross Street in Williamsburg.
Paladino plugged himself as the “religious values” candidate at both events.
Speaking to a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders in Borough Park, Paladino noted how he boycotted the Gay Pride parade Democratic foe Andrew Cuomo marched in, along with his daughters, this summer.
“There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homoxsexual,” he said. “That’s not how G-d created us, and that’s not the example that we should be showing our children — and certainly not in our schools.”
Not suprisingly, Paladino said he would veto any legislation that seeks to legalize gay marriage in New York.
“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 brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option,” he said. “It isn’t.”
Calling himself the “religious values candidate,” he said “I will not support immoral legislation.”
Asked whether such comments are appropriate given the recent Bronx torture of a gay man by gang members, Paladino said he does not support gay bashing.
Paladino insisted he does not want to “hurt homosexual people in any way.”
“My approach is live and let live,” he said.
Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto ripped Paladino.
“Mr. Paladino’s statement displays a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality,” Vlasto said.
He said the 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.”