Outgoing Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim
Naugle has upset gay activist again over remarks that a gay mayoral
candidate could win if he was a “responsible homosexual.” Last
year, the Venice of America mayor found himself in hot water when he
said, “I use the word homosexual. Most of them aren't gay; they're
unhappy.”
The mayoral race in Ft. Lauderdale
includes two openly gay candidates: former city commissioner Dean
Trantalis and businessman Earl Rynerson. Both men say Naugle's
negative remarks inspired them to run for the job. Naugle, who has
held the office since 1991, cannot run again due to term limits.
Speaking on 850WFTL conservative talk
radio Thursday, Naugle was asked if he believed a gay candidate could
win the mayor's office.
“I think that a homosexual does have
a chance to be elected mayor in Ft. Lauderdale, if they reject that
notion that it's okay to take over our parks and public spaces with
that kind of activity,” Naugle said, referring to men having sex in
park restrooms. “I mean if a responsible homosexual would run for
office and reject that kind of activity, if a responsible homosexual
were to run for office and do something about the AIDS crisis --
recognizing that promiscuous activity has a heavy cost on human life
and dollars.”
When asked if he would be remembered as
the anti-gay mayor, Naugel disagreed, “I want to be remembered as
one of the first politicians that rejected political correctness.”
Historians, however, might have a
different view. The mayor upset gay activists last year after he
began arresting gay men accused of having sex in park restrooms. At
first the mayor said he was protecting children, but later added that
he was saving lives from HIV. Yet, from the beginning of the
controversy police reported few problems in the parks.
Speaking on the same radio program this
morning, Earl Rynerson said he had contacted the police department
and requested information on the parks. He said a police department
investigation found only 10 reports of gay sexual activity in the
parks during the past two years. In fact, he pointed out, there was
a greater straight sex problem in the parks, with as many as 15 cases
reported within the same years.
“He needs to be responsible with the
words he says. He is totally irresponsible and shameless in the
comments.” Dean Trantalis told CBS4 News. “The Mayor has some
serious problems with sexual orientation and enough is enough.”