One day after making anti-gay remarks, Carl Paladino was booed as he marched in the city’s Columbus Day parade, and made an effort to defend himself.
“I have absolutely no problem with it whatsoever,” said Paladino of homosexuality. “My only reservation is marriage.”
Paladino said he’s not homophobic, but finds the bumping and grinding at gay pride parades “disgusting.”
“Young children should not be exposed to that at a young age,” said Paladino on the “Today” show. “Exposing them to homosexuality, especially at a gay pride parade — they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other and it’s just a terrible thing.”
Not all New Yorkers think what Paladino said is offensive — or even shocking.
“I’ve been talking to people today and they’re asking, ‘What is all the hoopla about?” said Mike Long, chairperson of the state Conservative Party. “I don’t believe it’s beyond the pale for someone to say, ‘I don’t really believe one should take their daughters to a gay pride parade. I think we’re living in a world where maybe people are getting tired of all this political correctness.”
But denouncing gays is not a winning political strategy. “There are more people who are inclined to at least be tolerant or accepting of gay people,” said Maurice Carroll of the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. “This is a pretty liberal state.”
