FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 11, 2010
The Pride Center of WNY Organizes Rally to Decry Carl Paladino’s Homophobic Comments
Buffalo, NY – “I don’t want our children brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option†Carl Paladino. In response, Jorien Brock, Senior Director of the Pride Center of WNY states: “This is exactly the kind of appalling public discourse that perpetuates anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender violence and tells our young LGBT folks that they are alone, do not have other options, and leads them to commit suicide.†Brock continues†And what is this about an option? Aren’t we past the point of even having a discussion about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered folks choosing to be who they are. This is not an option…it IS who we are, and who we are is very good.â€
In response to the outrageous and disparaging comments made by Mr. Paladino, The Pride Center is inviting the community to stand by them in a public rally to protest these comments at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 12 in front of Mr. Paladino’s campaign headquarters at 295 Main Street in the City of Buffalo. This will be a peaceful rally to show Mr. Paladino, the people of Western New York and those throughout New York State that he does NOT speak for us.
Mr. Paladino states that “we†should not get him wrong, he does not want to hurt LGBT people?. “This is exactly what he is doing;†states Brock,“This language is hateful and hurtful.†Suicide is the number one cause of death for young LGBT people. More gay youth than any other group take their own lives because they are afraid, they do not feel safe, they do not believe they can grow up to be loved, they feel that society does not and will not accept them for who they are.
The mission of the Pride Center is to work with the community to make Western New York a safe, healthy, and satisfying place for LGBT people to live, work, and establish their families. We want people to know that you are not alone, there are people and resources here to support you, and perpetuating discrimination against LGBT people will not be tolerated.
WWW.PRIDECENTERWNY.ORG
P.S. I still have a bag full of aloe!!
Paladino's newphew spoke out against his Uncle's remarks saying ‘Obviously, I'm very offended by his comments.’ :::link:::
I'm glad that he publicly spoke out against him. I know that I would be very, very hurt if one of my family members made a statement like that, especially a very public statement.
Well the thing about this and most elections is that who wins isn't decided by who the people want it is by who votes. Every time there is this big mass of people who don't vote I've seen numbers as high as 34% and I'm sure it all depends on what the election is for. I think I get why he said what he said. He wasn't going after the gays directly he was calling out Coumo's character. One of the things he said is why would you take young kids to see guys grinding on each other. See he isn't known in that part of New York so what he (I suspect ) what he is trying to do is get people who won't vote for him since they don't know him to vote for him, cause they feel the same way. He also claims he thinks gays should be equal just not in Marriage.... This view is much more common then people think. He doesn't have a speech writer I'm guessing, if he did it wouldn't really be him. I think what he said will get more people to Join his side then it will then leave. Besides he need more money and the anti-gay movement spends money to back people (look at prop 8 in CA as an example). I guess the upside is at least it isn't dull................
Howie is a nice guy, I always thought he would make a great mayor of Syracuse. As for Carl he is a world class tool. Who is his speechwriter, Fred Phelps? I honestly know nothing about Cuomo other than he was pretty much predicted to win this thing long before he was even running, and long before Crazy Carl the Bigot rode into town. Carl is not going to win. I predicted a major landslide the day that skewed poll from Quinnipiac was released and I stand by it. Unfortunately this election is like every other one in NYS...Pointless. It really doesn't matter who wins, things are way too fucked up to change. I will probably vote for Cuomo however, just to make certain that the rest of the country knows there are reasonable people in this part of the state.
A friend of mine has been pushing hard for Howie Hawkins, the Green Party candidate. He is/was/has been a progressive political activist for some time. He's a real deal hard core lefty.
There is also the Libertarian Party candidate Warren Redlich. Don't know too much about him, but I'm doing some reading.
What other third party is running? Sadly, I am so out of touch with the election that matters the most?
Blaming him for possible future anti-gay violence is a bridge too far for me, after all he isn't in every family's home telling parents what to teach their kids.
Nevertheless, his comments are intolerable to me too, as someone who supports gay marriage and doesn't think homosexual people have 2 heads and 5 eyes. I can't believe he had the nerve to go to NYC and talk that way. Some day people are going to have to grow up and see reality for what it is. America isn't Mayberry.
Now we are going to certainly have Status Cuomo, and more suffering for New Yorkers. The only upside I can think of is that maybe Sandra Lee may possibly have slept her way into the governor's mansion, thereby removing her from Food TV. I'm voting 3rd party.
This guy is a complete jerk. It's to the point that if anyone I know tells me they are voting for him that I wouldn't be able to not take it personally. I really just hope that if they are going to vote for him that they don't tell me because it would really be hurtful to me to know that despite these views he has that they could still go ahead and vote for him.
I'll be working tomorrow, I hope that he will see the protesters and that there is somewhere in his heart to feel bad about his hurtful comments. If I were his nephew, I would never speak to him again until he made a public apology.
I'm not gay so I will admit I don't really get this but here is my Take:
1. Protest I think it is a great Idea
2. That being said Maybe he wants people do this
A. Makes the news
b. people focus on him not coumo
c. He needs more money and the anti gay community will give him money for his views.
d. He will lose and gain some voters over this, but guessing he will gain more then he loses
3. At least he is honest about his feelings.... So many people are PC in the Political Life that you have no idea where they stand.
4. I didn't hear or read everything he said but yes his words are strongly disapproving I don't know if that equals Hate or not?
5. I also don't know if those words means that he thinks it is ok to treat gay people as sub human or not.......
I guess I'll use the racial thing as an example (I'm new/old school). I don't want to hear your beats when I'm trying to watch True Blood or some other TV show or sporting event. I don't want to see your draws well unless it is a girl and a thong helps. Yeah you got 3 kids from 3 dads and are on the system's teat. But when you come to work All I care about is that you can do your Job. If someone is white and loves Metal but can't do their job or won't pay their taxes or what ever that is what I follow. I'm not saying he is the same way this is new racism as opposed to the old......
The Bottom line is this I was going to vote for him cause Albany is messed up and maybe he can change it. I don't care that he doesn't approve of homosexuals that is his opinion but I do fear now that he might try to block their equal rights so I can't vote for him any more.....
Hope the protest goes great........