Michigan Mayor Under Fire For Anti-Gay Facebook Post Aimed At New York
TROY, Mich. (CBSNewYork) -- A Michigan Mayor is in hot water for comments that she made on her Facebook page. The post has been deleted but some say that her words can't be so easily erased.
Evan Wolfson, executive director of "Freedom To Marry," told CBS 2's Ann Mercogliano, "It's very sad that a public official would refer to a group of loving and committed couples as 'queers.'"
Wolfson was referencing a June Facebook post made by Troy Mayor Janice Daniels, a few months before she was elected to office, and one day after gay marriage was legalized here in New York.
The post reportedly read: "I think I'm going to throw away my 'I love New York' carrying bag, now that queers can get married there."
Wolfson, who is a newlywed thanks to the new law, was disgusted by Daniels' comments.
"Mayor or no mayor it doesn't put a good face on the community that she now represents. And now that she is mayor all the more reason to be bringing it down." He said.
Daniels' comments are causing a firestorm on the Web and on the streets of New York. She did not respond to CBS2's request for an interview, but did express regret in a statement to a CBS affiliated radio station.
"I absolutely do regret it. I shouldn't have used such language. While I do believe marriage should be between one man and one woman, it was inappropriate to use that language. It was meant to be a joke," Daniels said.
Supporters say that Daniels was exercising free speech, but others are calling it an attack.
Susana Pugilese of Hoboken, N.J. told Mercogliano, "She has the right to express her opinion, but she has no right to be offensive."
While Daniels may not have been speaking on behalf of the city, officials in Troy said that they are getting flooded with requests calling for the mayor's resignation.
And while she does appear apologetic, Daniels said that she has no intention of resigning.
The City of Troy released a statement saying that it is proud of its diversity and that personal comments made by the mayor and any individual council member do not reflect the opinions of the city.
What do you think, is it time for Mayor Daniels to resign? Or was this an expression of free speech? Sound off in our comments section below...
