Gay Pride Parade Invites Paladino To March Next Year

Photograph from the 2010 Gay Pride Parade by Atomische • Tom Giebel on Flickr

Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino claims that he has no problems with gays—he just doesn't support gay marriage, doesn't want gays discussed amongst children and detests the gay pride parade. We reached out to the organizers of the annual Heritage of Pride March in NYC to respond to his comments slamming Andrew Cuomo's decision to march in the parade with his teen daughters ("I don't think it's proper for them to go there and watch a couple of grown men grind against each other"). Co-Chair Ada Ospina said:

We would hope that the personal views of a political figure do not adversely affect the struggles and challenges that the LGBT community is faced with on a daily basis. On National Coming Out Day we would hope that individuals would be more cognizant of the issues that are currently affecting our communities and embrace all aspects of our diversity. The unfortunate deaths of young people that have been making headlines could have been prevented with more tolerance based dialogue focused on inclusivity.

The NYC Pride March is a prime example of an inclusivity based event, with over 500,000 marchers from a very broad spectrum and over 1,000,000 spectators from an equally as broad spectrum We strive to continue to host events in which our attendees can freely express themselves, of course while following city, state, and federal laws. Although we may not agree with views of Mr. Paladino, such statements highlight the importance of our Annual Pride events in combating the hatred and homophobia that is still present in our society. We welcome him to march with us, the LGBT community, our allies, and other political figures in the 2011 NYC Pride March on June 26th.

Paladino is blaming the whole hullabaloo about his remarks "I don't want [children] brainwashed into thinking that homosexualtiy is an equally valid and successful option--it isn't" on Cuomo (of course)!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on October 11, 2010 5:32 PM

Comments [rss]

ladyjane

so what I'm getting from this is that you actually don't think that homosexuals should have equal rights?

robingee

You're new here, aren't you? Ides is one of the resident LOOKIT ME! trolls. Along with Napalm and Paula (who is in disgu-IDES!)

ladyjane

sigh, yea i know. but they spend all this time trying to make crafty arguments when they should just come out and say i'm not into equal rights because i'm a bigot...

ladyjane

sorry that was supposed to be a reply to ides

Leanne

That's me in the photo!

That was a great day. I was on CBS news, on three blogs and interviewed by the Associated Press and the Daily News.

Great parade, plenty of families with children there, and if you know anything about the parade, the "risque" stuff doesn't happen until the end. If Paladino had actually been there, he would have seen the families and politicians marching in the front.

Love the fact that Paladino sent out porn and racist photos to co-workers and has a 10 yr old love child AND is against abortion even for rape or incest victims. You stay classy guy.

ides_of_march

Without heterosexuality there is no human race. Every single gay person owes his or her existence to a heterosexual act. When homosexuality can make the same claim, we can discuss equality.

rasputinsghost

do any of you realize how fast ides would disappear if everyone stopped replying to his absurd trolling

robingee

Another page from Stuff I Just Made Up That Everyone Must Believe So There!

No one deserves rights unless... they... (think think) do something to contribute to (think think) SOCIETY! And um (scratch head) unless they can... HAVE BABIES! Yeah that's it, have babies... they can't um.... (pass out).

Dogsbody

"Every single gay person owes his or her existence to a heterosexual act. When homosexuality can make the same claim, we can discuss equality. "

Dumb argument - you can make exactly the same statement about infertile/impotent people. Does that mean infertile/impotent people shouldn't have legal equality?

La Flama Blanca

. . . and Catholic priests.

John L

Live and Let Live.

You don't have to like everyone, but you should respect everyone.

Gays are only demanding what's rightfully theirs, respect.

ides_of_march

Respect is earned, not demanded,

robingee

Everyone deserves respect until they act like a disrespectful dumb twat. Case. In. Point.

jibbly

1) Respect being "earned" and "demanded" are not mutually exclusive to each other.

2) Respect would be irrelevant if gays have the full rights and responsibilities of their fellow citizens under the law. As it stands now fools like you are demanding that they somehow "earn respect" to attain those rights that they are entitled to as citizens.

jt10000

+1

internecine

I think you are seriously misunderstanding the gay rights movement. No one is asking that LGBT persons be "celebrated", just as feminism and civil rights were not about establishing women or minorities or people of color as superior to others, or flaunting their differences. It is basic respect and equality that is sought, not preferential treatment. I don't know why you think otherwise, but it is a great untruth that has been perpetuated.

Is it really outrageous that human beings ask to be treated as such? That people want the same rights that are given to others, regardless of race, creed, gender or religion? Think about that, and tell me why you would deny others what is so unquestionably given to you.

As for being a "racist, or a [sic] biggot"... well sometimes the shoe just fits.

Gregoire

Well said, Mel.

nicemarmot

Those people - the homophobes - like nothing better than to pretend they're victims. They're the same people who, when they're not allowed to force their religious beliefs on others, whine that they're being oppressed and persecuted. As far as they are concerned, if they're not allowed to openly stone gays in the streets, it's a "homosexual agenda." To them, people who don't agree with them aren't even human, and they will do and say whatever they can to dehumanize them in the eyes of others. You wouldn't believe the garbage I heard growing up in a rabidly anti-gay part of the Midwest. From "gays are the tools of Satan" to "if we allow a gay to teach our students they will all become gay."

It will only stop when they all die off. Fortunately that will be sooner rather than later. They're a shrinking minority already, which is good, although it allows them to pretend to be victims even more.

La Flama Blanca

"It will only stop when they all die off. Fortunately that will be sooner rather than later. They're a shrinking minority already . . . "

Agreed. Paper tigers, the lot of them. (Except if you live in a small town and happen to be gay, or live in a big town but join the wrong gang and happen to be gay, or . . . other than that, f-em.)

robingee

Blacks wanted rights, women wanted rights and now gays want rights. It scares them that they will not be King and Queen Sh*t anymore and that other people also actually matter. So they bleat, "Wah! They are forcing us to love the gay lifestyle! Wah!"