National
Paladino assailed after anti-gay remarks
Said children could be ‘brainwashed’ into accepting homosexuality
Following a firestorm of criticism, the Republican candidate for governor in New York, Carl Paladino, attempted Monday to soften his denunciation of homosexuality one day earlier in a speech before Orthodox Jewish leaders in Brooklyn.
In reiterating his opposition to same-sex marriage, Paladino told the Jewish leaders that children shouldn’t be “brainwashed” into believing that homosexuality is valid. He also denounced his Democratic opponent, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, for marching this year in New York’s LGBT Pride parade.
“I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option — it isn’t,” he said in his speech.
According to a recording of his speech made available to the media, Paladino added, “I didn’t march in the gay parade this year – the Gay Pride parade this year. My opponent did, and that’s not the example we should be showing our children.”
Log Cabin Republicans of New York, a gay group, joined other LGBT organizations and activists in criticizing Paladino for disparaging the LGBT community shortly after news surfaced of a rash of gay teen suicides brought about by anti-gay bullying and harassment.
Paladino’s speech before the Orthodox Jewish congregation also came two days after New York City police announced the arrest of eight youths charged with torturing and beating three gay men in the Bronx in an incident described by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as one of the most shocking hate crimes ever committed in the city.
“By his own words, Carl Paladino has made himself the poster boy for the kind of divisive leadership that makes young LGBT people question their self-worth and gives license to advance their hate,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign.
In an appearance on the “Today” show on Monday, Paladino said he is not anti-gay and believes discrimination against gays is “horrible … terrible.”
He told “Today” show host Matt Lauer that the “brainwashed” remark in his speech was intended to convey his opposition to same-sex marriage and his concern that “children should not be exposed” to homosexuality at a young age.
“They don’t understand this,” he said. “It’s a very difficult thing. And exposing them to homosexuality, especially at a Gay Pride parade — and I don’t know if you’ve ever been to one — but they wear these little Speedos and they grind against each other. It’s a terrible thing.”
He said he would “absolutely” hire gay people to work in his administration as governor, adding, “You name it. Wherever their expertise may be, we’ll put them in our government.”
Gregory Angelo, chair of the New York Log Cabin Republicans, said his group had reached out to Paladino earlier this year, with the hope that he would express support for board principles of LGBT equality. But he said Paladino’s latest comments on homosexuality made it “very unlikely” that the group would endorse him for governor.
“Carl Paladino’s statements are unfortunate and show he lacks an understanding of what it means to be gay,” Angelo said.
Referring to Paladino’s comment about brainwashing, Angelo added, “I don’t want New Yorkers to be brainwashed into thinking that ignorance is an equally valid and successful option. It isn’t.”
The latest public opinion polls show Cuomo leading Paladino in the race. But with Paladino declaring himself a Tea Party candidate, some political observers say he has a shot at winning if Democratic voters don’t turn out at the polls in large numbers. Cuomo is a long-time supporter of LGBT rights and said he would sign a same-sex marriage bill.
Paladino said he would veto such a bill if the Legislature passes it.
Arizona
Shooting outside gay bar in Ariz. leaves three dead
Tucson police investigating double murder-suicide as a hate crime
Three people were fatally shot outside a gay bar in Tucson, Ariz., early Monday morning, about a mile from the city’s nightlife district.
Police have said the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of Venture-N Bar at 1239 N. 6th Ave., was likely a hate crime and a double murder-suicide following a verbal altercation.
The suspect, Ousman Ceesay, allegedly shot Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara while they were outside the club around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Reports show Capara and Siqueiros were pronounced dead at the scene. Ceesay died after being taken to a local hospital with gunshot wounds.
Police have also said that Ceesay was carrying a list of LGBTQ businesses at the time of the shooting.
Arizona Public Media has said police are investigating the case as a hate crime because the suspect was carrying a note containing the names of multiple LGBTQ-associated businesses.
“I am deeply saddened that another senseless loss of life has happened in our community,” Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said in a statement. “Bias-based crimes are especially heinous and have no place in our community.”
According to Prieto, there is no imminent threat to the community, and the Tucson Police Department is working to provide extra protection to various LGBTQ businesses across town.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, who represents the area, issued a statement condemning the act of violence, which appears to have been at least in part motivated by homophobia.
“I am disgusted and deeply saddened to learn of a targeted act of hate and the cold-blooded murder of two members of our LGBTQIA+ community, Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, at the Venture-N bar in Tucson last night. This horrific attack is a painful reminder that even in welcoming communities like Tucson, hate and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community still exist.”
“When that hate is combined with easy access to firearms, the consequences can be deadly. I am sick and tired of Congress refusing to lift a finger to protect our communities while, every day, dozens of people are shot and killed across the country. It does not have to be this way. The House of Representatives is returning to session this week, and our first action should be passing common-sense gun safety reforms that we know can save lives.”
Other federal lawmakers also condemned the shooting.
The Congressional Equality Caucus, which is made up of federal legislators advancing LGBTQ interests, issued a statement after news broke.
“Our hearts are with the friends and loved ones of the victims of this devastating attack outside a Tucson gay bar and with the Tucson LGBTQI+ community,” it said on X. “No one should fear violence because of who they are — and we’re going to continue fighting to build a world where no one does.”
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ organization in the country, released a statement following the shooting.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Vincent Anthony Siqueiros and Cameron Davis Capara and our hearts are with their families, loved ones, and the entire Tucson LGBTQ+ community. Once again, we are reminded that gun violence robs people of their lives, destroys families, and devastates communities.”
A candlelight vigil honoring the victims is planned for Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Catalina Park in North Tucson.
Congress
HRC president campaigns for Chris Pappas in NH
Gay congressman running to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson on Sunday campaigned for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in New Hampshire.
Robinson traveled to Manchester, the state’s largest city, nine days before the Sept. 8 primary that will determine who will vie for retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)’s seat.
We’re hitting the pavement across New Hampshire to fight for a freer, fairer future for everyone.
Glad to have Human Rights Campaign President @KelleyJRobinson join us for a canvass launch in Manchester today. pic.twitter.com/XWCEaQxy4o
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) August 30, 2026
Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003-2009, will face off against former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 2010-2013, in the Republican primary.
Karishma Manzur is among the Democrats challenging Pappas.
A poll the University of New Hampshire Survey Center released on Aug. 26 shows Sununu is ahead of Brown. The same survey shows Pappas ahead of Manzur and his other Democratic challengers.
The UNH Survey Center poll shows Sununu ahead of Pappas by a 45-43 percent margin if they were to face off in the general election. The margin of error is +/-2.1 percent.
Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate if he were to win in November.
National
Milo Yiannopoulos deported to UK
ICE arrested far-right provocateur in New Orleans on Thursday
Editor’s note: The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday said Milo Yiannopoulos has been deported to the U.K.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday arrested far-right provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
A DHS spokesperson in a statement sent to the Washington Blade said ICE arrested Yiannopoulos, who they described as “an illegal alien from the United Kingdom,” at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
The DHS spokesperson said Yiannopoulos “legally entered the country” in New York on May 14, 2019.
“He chose to overstay his welcome in violation of our nation’s laws,” said the spokesperson.
The DHS spokesperson said an immigration judge on July 22 “issued a final order of removal” for Yiannopoulos “after failing to show up for his immigration hearing.” The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans on Friday reported Yiannopoulos is being held at an ICE detention center in Alexandria, La., which is about 200 miles northwest of the Crescent City.
“He will remain in ICE custody pending removal,” said the DHS spokesperson.
Yiannopoulos has, among other things, repeatedly targeted transgender people and Muslims.
The American Conservative Union, which organizes the annual Conversative Political Action Conference, in 2017 disinvited Yiannopoulos from speaking at that year’s CPAC after a video in which he appeared to condone sex between adults and underage boys emerged. Yiannopoulos subsequently resigned from Breitbart News, a far-right news website, where he had been a senior editor.
Yiannopoulos later that year married his boyfriend in Hawaii. The far-right provocateur in 2021 claimed he was an “ex-gay.”
The Australian government in 2019 banned Yiannopoulos from entering the country “on character grounds.” Yiannopoulos was also banned from Facebook, Twitter (now X), and other social media platforms.

The Times-Picayune reported Yiannopoulos “most recently worked for” Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
The controversial rapper is scheduled to perform in New Orleans on Friday.
Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist who is close to President Donald Trump, has called for Yiannopoulos’s deportation. Loomer on Friday wrote on X that she “reported him to ICE and the FBI” after he “called for me to be assassinated.”
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