GOP Candidate Carl Paladino Says He's Not Homophobic

Oct. 11, 2010— -- New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino fired back at claims that he's homophobic after his remarks to a Brooklyn group of Orthodox Jewish leaders set off an uproar yesterday.

On "Good Morning America," today Paladino said his comments were rooted in his Catholic faith and that he's "not homophobic."

"I only have one problem with homosexuality and that's their desire to be married. Beyond that, I don't have a problem whatsoever," Paladino said.

The Tea Party-backed Paladino ignited the controversy during what normally is a routine and unremarkable ritual of campaigns in New York, a visit to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to court the ultra-religious Jews who live there -- one of the myriad voting blocks in the racially and ethnically diverse city.

At the gathering, Paladino said that he didn't want children being "brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option."

Today, Paladino used his support of his gay nephew as proof that he is not homophobic.

"I have a nephew and my nephew is a wonderful boy and he's gay and I see the difficulty he suffers every day with discriminatory people," Paladino said.

Still, when asked by ABC News if he believed homosexuality was a choice, Paladino stumbled.

"I've had difficulty with that. My nephew tells me he didn't have that choice and I believe it's a very, very difficult life for a young person."

Political observers could not recall the last time a major-party candidate in New York had made such comments about homosexuality.

Apparently trying to draw a distinction from his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Paladino told the Jewish leaders in Brooklyn on Sunday that he didn't march in "the gay parade this year -- the gay pride parade," while Cuomo did.

Today, Paladino stood by his statement about Cuomo's participation in the gay parade, saying that he thought it was inappropriate that Cuomo took his children to the parade. Paladino recounted a time in Canada when he and his wife "stumbled" upon a gay pride parade.

"It wasn't pretty. It was a bunch of very extreme type people in bikini type outfits grinding at each other and doing these gyrations and I certainly wouldn't let my young children see that," he said.

Today, Paladino and Cuomo are scheduled to participate in another parade, the Columbus Day march in New York.

Two gay Democrats, New York Assemblyman Thomas Duane and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, said just before Monday's parade that Paladino should apologize for his remarks about gay culture.

Paladino representatives indicated he might not participate in the parade that has long been on his schedule.