North Carolina State Representative
Larry Brown wants AIDS funding to adults living a 'perverted
lifestyle' cut off, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.
While discussing his support for a
constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a heterosexual
union in the North Carolina Constitution, the Republican lawmaker
veered off track to talk about HIV funding.
“I'm not opposed to helping a child
born with HIV or something, but I don't condone spending taxpayers'
money to help people living in perverted lifestyles,” he said.
Brown's comments were quickly denounced
by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay advocate.
“Rep. Brown's ill-informed comments
are not only hateful rhetoric, but they are also extremely
dangerous,” HRC President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.
“Hysterical, judgmental and inaccurate statements like Brown's
create an environment that prevents many from getting tested and
seeking treatment, thereby furthering the spread of HIV and AIDS.”
“Larry Brown's conduct reflects
poorly on his constituents and other elected officials. The people
of North Carolina deserve better,” he added.
Brown angered gay activists in October
when he referred to openly gay legislators as “fruitloops” in an
email discussing plans by the gay rights group Equality North
Carolina to honor House Speaker Joe Hackney, a Democrat, for his work
in the General Assembly. Hackney, the group said, played a pivotal
role in blocking efforts to ban gay marriage in the state.
“I hope all the queers are thrilled
to see him. I am sure there will be a couple [of] legislative
fruitloops there in the audience,” he wrote.