Carl Paladino Says Homosexuality Not a 'Successful Option'

Oct. 11, 2010— -- New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino touched off a new uproar Sunday, saying that children should not be "brainwashed" into thinking that homosexuality was acceptable.

On "Good Morning America," today Paladino said his comments were rooted in his Catholic faith and that he's "not homophobic" and has "no reservations whatsoever about gays."

Appearing before a small gathering of Orthodox Jewish leaders in Brooklyn, Paladino also boasted that he boycotted New York's gay pride parade.

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.

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 that he didn't march in "the gay parade this year -- the gay pride parade," while Cuomo did.

"That's not the example we should be showing our children, and certainly not in our schools" he said.

"And don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live," he said.

"I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don't want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option," he said. "It isn't."