N.Y. gov: Paladino’s lips "dripping with the words of homophobia and hypocrisy"

by Michael K. Lavers

National News Editor

Thursday October 14, 2010

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New York Gov. David Paterson was among those who blasted Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino at the Empire State Pride Agenda's annual fall dinner in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday, Oct. 14.

Paladino sparked a firestorm of controversy on Sunday, Oct. 10, when he told a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders at a Brooklyn synagogue that school children should not be "brainwashed" to think "homosexuality is equally valid and successful option-it isn't." The Tea Party-backed candidate sparked even more outrage when he criticized opponent Andrew Cuomo for marching in a

gay Pride parade.

Paterson described Paladino as someone whose lips are "dripping with the words of homophobia and hypocrisy". He further blasted the Buffalo millionaire for failing to immediately respond to Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi's suicide late last month and the brutal attack against a gay man and two teenagers in the Bronx on Oct. 3.

"I was shocked and appalled to hear him say things like it," Paterson told reporters outside the dinner.

Cuomo accused Paladino of using LGBT New Yorkers to exploit voter anger and anxiety. "There is an extreme political agenda on the other side of this election," said Cuomo after New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn introduced him at a pre-dinner reception. "We saw it this week with the GLBT community."

Quinn equated Paladino as a bully.


Paladino's efforts to diffuse the controversy have only fueled further outrage - and ridicule, but Pride Agenda executive director Ross Levi soundly dismissed the Republican gubernatorial candidate.

"Frankly, I could care what Carl Paladino thinks of me as a gay man," said Levi. "I do want him to know, we have heard far worse from people with far more power and far more credibility. We have fought them and we have won against them too."


Based in Washington, D.C., Michael K. Lavers has appeared in the New York Times, BBC, WNYC, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Advocate and other mainstream and LGBT media outlets. He is an unapologetic political junkie who thoroughly enjoys living inside the Beltway.