Res. No. 827 Title Resolution condemning United States Senator Rick Santorum's homophobic remarks and calling upon him to apologize and to resign from his leadership position as Republican Party Conference Chairman. Body By The Speaker (Council Member Miller) and Council Members Quinn, Reed, Lopez, Katz, Gonzalez, Clarke, Brewer, Yassky, Barron, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Gerson, Jackson, Koppell, Liu, Nelson, Perkins, Recchia, Sanders, Seabrook, Serrano, Stewart and Weprin Whereas, In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Senator Rick Santorum, a Pennsylvania Republican, commented on the Lawrence v. Texas case that is currently before the Supreme Court, stating that if the Supreme Court allows "you [to] have the right to consensual [gay] sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything;" and Whereas, Senator Rick Santorum's comments are deeply offensive and homophobic; and Whereas, The Senator's comments have lead gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender leaders and human rights leaders to call for his removal from the Senate leadership; and Whereas, Many national statistics, including those of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Projects, show that hateful statements, such as the ones made by the Senator, encourage hate and anti-gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender bigotry; and Whereas, The Senator's comments are the second time in recent memory that a leader from the Republican GOP made bigoted and divisive comments towards citizens; and Whereas, Senator Santorum, a self-described "compassionate conservative" with a reputation for being an outspoken, brash and confrontational lawmaker, has focused his energy and efforts largely on social issues that emphasize core family values, and in this respect is of the opinion that homosexuality, feminism and liberalism undermine the family; and Whereas, The Senator's comments compared homosexuality to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery and have led LGBT and human rights leaders to call for his removal from the Senate leadership; and Whereas, Senator Santorum is the Republican Party's conference chairman, the third highest seat in the GOP leadership, and his remarks are not only insensitive and divisive but are also "deeply hurtful" and play on deep-seated fears that run counter to scientific evidence, common sense and basic decency; and Whereas, As a nation, we have become far more accepting of homosexuality over the past two decades, and this is one reason why many state sodomy laws have been repealed or struck down in state courts; and Whereas, Winnie Stachelberg, Political Director for The Human Rights Campaign, our country's largest national lesbian and gay political organization, has stated: "Clearly, Senator Santorum is not speaking for his constituents when he attacks the gay community: gay men and women in Pennsylvania (and across the country) make valuable contributions to their communities, raise families, own homes, pay taxes and live their lives the same way other Americans do"; and Whereas, Continued use of anti-LGBT rhetoric within Senator Santorum's political strategy will ultimately hurt the Republican Party and erode his support in Pennsylvania; and Whereas, By breaching the faith and good will of the public who elected him to serve with balance, understanding and intelligence, Senator Santorum has clearly and most persuasively demonstrated that he should not, under any circumstance, be allowed to maintain his position as Republican Party Conference Chairman; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York condemns United States Senator Rick Santorum's homophobic remarks and calls upon him to apologize and to resign from his leadership position as Republican Party Conference Chairman. WA LS#2355 D-Res. # 4/24/03 |10
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