Janice Daniels, the newly installed mayor of Troy, Michigan, is under fire for criticizing New York's decision to legalize gay marriage, the Troy Patch reported.

Daniels, a Tea Party favorite, wrote in a June 25 Facebook status update: “I think I am going to throw away my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married there.”

Equality Michigan, the state's largest gay rights advocate, expressed dismay as the status went viral on Friday: “We are shocked and appalled and call on the mayor to apologize, and to endorse a non-discrimination ordiance in her city that protects gay and transgender residents of Troy from the harm that such language breeds.”

Denise Brogan-Kator, executive director of Equality Michigan, added: “I find it discouraging that a leader of people can have such disregard for the lives of people she serves. Many of us use the word 'queer' as a way to reclaim a word that has historically been used to hurt us, by the majority. Clearly, from the context, this is NOT what Mayor Daniels intended.”

Daniels refused to apologize.

“I firmly support marriage as being defined as between one man and one woman and I am not going to change my position.”

“The groups that despise me are digging deep to try to find something to worry about. They probably should start worrying about how they can best work with a new mayor who believes that we live in a free country and we all have first amendment rights to speak our minds on any and all issues that are before us,” she said in a statement.