Bloomberg Pleads For Tolerance Amid Gay-Bashing, Violence

Taking on a recent rash of homophobic incidents across the country and, perhaps, inflammatory anti-gay comments from Republican gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg offered an impassioned plea for tolerance Monday evening.

"Let me be clear," the mayor said in remarks delivered at the 30th annual Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) New York City Awards Dinner, "these incidents are completely unacceptable. They're intolerable in a city in which tolerance is what defines us. They're unacceptable in a city in which embracing our differences is what makes us strong. Because when any New Yorker is attacked because of who they are or who they love, the fabric that binds us together is torn. That's why these attacks are attacks on us all, and why they can never, ever be allowed. Especially when it comes to our kids."

Bloomberg has bolstered his civil-liberties bona fides in recent months. His remarks to PFLAG follow the mayor's strong defense of an Islamic cultural center in downtown Manhattan.

Delivered just hours after Paladino was forced to explain a speech he gave in which he said children were being "brainwashed" into accepting homosexuality as "valid," Bloomberg's Monday-night remarks also served to illustrate the Republican Party's evolution on gay rights. Of course, Bloomberg is no longer, formally, a Republican.

Further Bloomberg remarks appear below:

"To those who have been the target of bullying and bias, whether you happen to be in this room or in any neighborhood in the city, I say this: this great city stands with you. We believe in you. We want you here. We will do anything in our power to keep you safe. And we will do everything in our power to punish those who dare threaten the well being of our citizens.

"As I said over the weekend, the perpetrators of the abuse and torture in the Bronx will be spared no mercy. At the same time, we will continue -- with the help of PFLAG -- reinforcing in our public schools what is the most comprehensive anti-bullying policy of its kind in the nation. Because building a city of honesty and respect and civility begins with our children.

"This city's greatest strength has always been its diversity and openness. There are moments when that is challenged, when some argue for closing, rather than opening doors -for closing, rather than opening our hearts.

"But I am confident that will never happen, in part because of your energy and advocacy. And clearly, as we note on this night of celebration, that good work is needed now, more than ever before.

"So let me close by saying that our city -- and our nation -- have come a long way, but our journey is not yet complete. I wish for you the same thing I wish for any parent in this city: the joy of seeing your son or daughter fall in love, the joy of walking your son or daughter down the aisle on the most important day of their lives. Government should not be in the business of telling anyone whom he or she can and cannot love. And believe me, I will fight with you every single day to make that a reality. Good night, and God bless."

Comments

[applescruff]

10:13 PM on 10/12/2010

The Hetro Christian Right , with their 50% Divorce rate ,claiming a moral authority and defending the sanctity of Marriage.? We are certain of the devastating effects to the family that divorce causes. The Anti-Gay Groups can offer no evidence that the same holds true for children of commited gay couples however .Why are we allowing marriage to be defined from a decidedly religious authority instead of a purely legal one as it should be? The primary purpose of our Constiutution is to guarantee that any American Citizen to be afforded the same rights as every other American ..

[fr33d0mhawk]

08:10 PM on 10/12/2010

Bloomberg is an old style Republican, a politician first, leader second, but he is at least trying to do a good job of governing, kind of like a Bob Dole. The new breed is more reminiscent of Tim McVeigh than Bob Dole. Where have all the good Republicans gone? Insane apparently.

[KenClay]

07:17 PM on 10/12/2010

Rejoice No More DADT!

[kenhamlett]

05:06 PM on 10/12/2010

As a gay liberal Democrat from NYC, I am pleased that Mayor Bloomberg is speaking out. It is terribly disappointing that others are not doing so. At least twice during his brief Presidency, Barack Obama has found it advantageous to speak out on behalf of Black Americans he believed were being treated unfairly. He told us then that the nation needed a "teaching moment" in his best professorial tones. Yet, in spite of this heinous incident in NYC and the news of at least five incidents in recent weeks involving suicides by young people who were being bullied for being gay, the President has not found it advantageous to say a word. So much for "teaching moments," I guess. Perhaps we are not all created quite as equal as we gay people had hoped.

[drjay79]

06:17 PM on 10/12/2010

The President takes advantage of us knowing we have no where else to go.

[garagenoir]

03:01 PM on 10/12/2010

Good for America's real mayor but, taking issue with the headline: we need to move past "toleration" to simple understanding. Even folks who can't understand same-sex attraction (or same-sex sex) can understand the friendship, affection and caring that can grow in a relationship between human beings. It's not something to be "tolerated" it's something to celebrate. C'mon, this is just not that difficult folks!

[FreedomFreedomFreedom]

02:08 PM on 10/12/2010

When my sons were very young, 9 and 5, my wife and I started to make yearly visits to Province Town, RI. We would spend a week on the Cape and on our last day we would take a trip to P-Town for lunch and dinner as well as a visit to the local shops. In case you are unaware there is a large gay and lesbian population in P-Town. Invariably we would encounter some men holding hands or kissing other men as well as women with women. My wife and I did not make an issue of this one way or another. We treated this as normal activities and this allowed our sons to process these actions in the same way. I am proud to say that 15 years later our sons are compassionate, understanding, tolerant adults. My sons have friends who are gay and they don't treat them any differently than their straight friends. If every parent treated gays and lesbians the same way we would not have this problem with homophobes. America is a diverse nation that needs to treat those who hate, the homophobes, as aberrant. No one should be persecuted for loving another human being regardless of their gender.

[Jced]

05:48 PM on 10/12/2010

Love you! When I get to a computer.... F

[Ioan Lightoller]

09:06 PM on 10/12/2010

Fanned and faved! It really does begin with the parents. Hate is learned, not inborn.

[applescruff]

10:04 PM on 10/12/2010

" And You've Got To Be Taught Before it's too late.
Before You Reach Six, Or Seven, Or Eight.
To Hate All The People Your Relatives Hate.
You've Got To Be Carefully Taught".

--Rodgers and Hammerstien"

[comment from Ron]

01:06 PM on 10/12/2010

It's truly sad when the mayor of a major city has to spell out what should be so obvious to moral people everywhere. Unfortunately, morality plays no part in the current Republican Party agenda and we should be making these people pay for being proponents of these hate crimes.

[Leah Watts]

10:17 AM on 10/12/2010

Because a tranche of the American public, at first, formulated a less-than-subtle way to articulate their prejudices openly, suddenly, under the guise of the First Amendment, it's OK to express hatred of specific groups within the frame and context of, not only American life, but life in general. Back to the future that is now identified by what's known as white minority politics.

http://www.myspace.com/virginiadem

[Aramek]

08:57 AM on 10/12/2010

Mr. Bloomberg is so awesome!

I just want to hug him! ^_^

[PowerPridePinstripes]

08:52 AM on 10/12/2010

this city - no, this country was built on intolerance and hatred - so a speech will not put out that perputual fire Mr. Mayor!

[kentj]

08:57 AM on 10/12/2010

When it comes to stopping injustice...every good intention, and every kind word...helps.

[negogato]

10:41 AM on 10/12/2010

Silence is consent

This is Jefferson:
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

[kentj]

08:50 AM on 10/12/2010

Well, the American People knew,that with the Republican-Tea Party Folks in the news spreading hate... that hate would only increase in this country.

The opposition to the Muslims building a Center in New York, was all about hate, and now that the Republican/Tea Party folks have a stranglehold on the media, and new allies...they feel empowered to attack even more people.

So far, the haters of the Republican/Tea Party has attacked, Mexicans, Muslims, Working Class, and now Gays...can we guess which group is next on the haters radar?

It is time We, the American People clean up our Country, and show the haters the door to exit our Country, so that they can go to Country where all the People look the same, think the same, and hate the same.....

Because hate, just do not belong in our Great Nation, where all people are treated with respect, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, religion or the lack there of......

[negogato]

11:03 AM on 10/12/2010

I just faved your comment. And I was suprised to see that 2 people flagged it as Abusive.
Why and where your comment is Abusive I do not know.

If it is not something they would say, knee jerk it's abusive? That is just below childish.

You cite Park51.
Despite everything that is screached on the Monopoly of the Fox network, New York City is FOR the Muslim Cultural Center that is going up near ground zero. Community board 1 which represents the interests of the people and businesses in the area has voted overwhelmingly in support of the center. Opposition is not local.

Here is a link to an article that appeared this week in Downtown Express - the local paper for lower manhattan. It is by Bill Love, a memeber of community board 1 and the president of Lower Manhattan Democrats.

http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_389/talkingpoint.html

Fanned
#75

[UpstateNY]

08:18 AM on 10/12/2010

It's unacceptable in our country where the innocent are protected. All the fury of the Tea Party people and the Glen Becks have emboldened the nastiest traits in people.

While it's true that the people who do these awful things are responsible and they are the ones that should be prosecuted - without the vile talk coming out of right-wing radio and candidates like Carl Paladino, they may have stayed under their rocks.

[Ioan Lightoller]

09:10 PM on 10/12/2010

Why the flags? Truth hurt? It is true...people like Limbaugh and Beck and bottom-feeders such as Paladino have done nothing but fan the flames of hate and division.

[Muzzle Me]

08:10 AM on 10/12/2010

Well, Bloomie, why not give your BFF, Murdoch, Faux News, a ring up and ask if he'll go front and center with you on the tee-vee again and speak out against this? I mean, you saddled up with him on illegal immigration. I would think you'd get support from Murdoch about spewing 8ate-speech...oh, that's right, he employ's Beck. Never mind.

[Nelson Montana]

08:00 AM on 10/12/2010

Does anyone think that the people who commit this violence simply need to hear that it's wrong? They know it's wrong and do it anyway. That's what makes it a criminal act and it should be punishable as such.

This is why the hate crime bill is so dumb. Wrong is wrong, regardless on the intent. And we don't need speeches, demonstrations or parades to get the message out. We need good parenting ...and when that doesn't work we need jails. End of story.

[hereinmiami]

08:52 AM on 10/12/2010

changing the way parents think about having gay kids is crucial; and to do that you need to change the culture; and speeches, demonstrations and parades are part of that. FAR more effective than just putting more people in prison, where they will be brutalized, and come out more likely to commit more crimes.

[Nelson Montana]

11:16 AM on 10/12/2010

Um, the jail time comes AFTER the crime has been committed. You're a little confused regarding the series of events. And irresponsible people are never swayed by the message in a parade. Never.

[DallasDon]

08:52 AM on 10/12/2010

I'm disappointed that _Huffington _Post allows someone who is opposed to the concept of protected classes of people like you to be on their staff.

You must oppose statutes codifying crimes against the elderly,
crimes against children, hate crimes based on race or ethnicity,
crimes against the handicapped
as well as hate crimes committed against gays and lesbians.

Just because Nelson Montana is not in a protected class doesn't mean that others don't need special protection.

Are you also opposed to the federal ban on hunting bald eagles?
Figure if they can't compete with our _weapons they deserve to go exstinct?

You sir lack compassion and humanity, you shouldn't post your biases and prejudices here, it's a shameful reflection upon employer.

_Huffington _Post could do a lot better than you.

"End of story." you say? I don't think so.

[Kya Nite]

09:04 AM on 10/12/2010

Kudos to you, very well stated.

[granto2]

09:30 AM on 10/12/2010

this is why we love you, DallasDon. well said. the whole idea that people will 'do the right thing' without legislation to protect the millions of americans who don't walk and talk extreme right wing is ludicrous. every american, whether gay, muslim, hindu, handicapped, disabled, liberal, black, white, brown, red, male, female, etc., deserves the comfort of knowing that their government cares about their safety, equality, and dignity. take that away and we no longer have america as it was intended to be. freedom and dignity are rights that all americans should enjoy. not just a chosen sect.

[TimbYYZ]

07:46 AM on 10/12/2010

IT is great to see someone's back bone sometimes..Thanks Mr Bloomberg