Carl Paladino, the Tea Party-backed candidate for governor of New York, has touched off controversy by telling a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders that he doesn’t want children to “be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option.”
He attempted to explain his comments on ‘Today.’
“I have absolutely no problem with (homosexuality),” Paladino told Matt Lauer. “My only reservation is marriage.”
Lauer then pointed out that Paladino hadn’t said that he doesn’t want school children to be brainwashed into accepting gay marriage, rather he had said he didn’t want them to be brainwashed into accepting homosexuality as an “equally valid or successful option.”
“Young children shouldn’t be exposed to (homosexuality) at a young age,” Paladino reaffirmed. “They don’t understand it, it’s a very difficult thing.”
“Especially at a Gay Pride parade,” Paladino continued. “And I don’t know if you’ve ever been to one — but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other. And it’s just a terrible thing.”
In the past, Paladino has criticized his opponent for governor, Andrew Cuomo, for taking his daughters to a gay pride parade.
(Source: TVSquad.com and NBC-TV)
