'They wear Speedos and grind against each other': Carl Paladino faces new storm over attack on gay pride marchers.
The Republican candidate for governor of New York State risked further outrage today after stating he didn't want children 'brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality' was acceptable.
Carl Paladino also said young children shouldn't be exposed to gay culture, especially gay pride parades in which marchers wear 'Speedos and grind against each other.'
The politician's incendiary comments followed a speech yesterday in which he told Orthodox Jewish leaders there is 'nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual'.
In an interview this morning on NBC's 'Today' show., Mr Paladino insisted that he did not discriminate against gays in his business or personal life, but opposed gay marriage.
He described it as 'disgusting' and 'a terrible thing' but said he would have no problem hiring gays in his administration.
Mentioning his gay nephew, Paladino said the discrimination he and others face is a 'very ugly experience.'
Paladino, who has received strong support from conservative 'tea party' activists, made the comments at a Brooklyn synagogue while trying to strike a contrast between himself and his Democratic rival, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
Yesterday Mr Paladino told members of a synagogue that he had deliberately chosen not to march in New York's gay pride parade this summer because his political rival did. in New York's gay pride parade this summer because his political rival did.
The controversial figure, who has received strong support from Tea Party activists, said: 'That's now how God created us and that's not the example that we should be showing our children.'
He added that children who later in life choose to marry people of the opposite sex and raise families would be 'much better off and much more successful'.
'I don't want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option,' he said.
Mr Paladino - a multi-millionaire developer - said he is opposed to gay marriage, but did not support violence against gays.
He said: 'Don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie.
'My approach is live and let live.'
His comments, made as he campaigned in the traditionally Jewish neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, come after eight people were arrested over an attack on a gay man outside New York's famous Stonewall Inn and attacks on two gay teenagers in the Bronx on October 3.
A campaign spokesman for Democrat candidate Andrew Cuomo said Mr Paladino's remarks demonstrated 'a stunning homophobia and a glaring disregard for basic equality'.
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