07/11/2008
Jim Naugle: 'Responsible Homosexual' Could Fill My Seat
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle spoke with 850 WFTL in Fort Lauderdale yesterday. The outgoing mayor, well-known for his positions that gays are "unhappy", says he thinks a "responsible homosexual" could fill his seat: "He defined that as one who rejects the idea that it's OK to take over public parks for gay sex, and who would 'do something about the AIDS crisis here, recognizing promiscuous activity has a heavy cost on life and dollars.'"
Of his legacy, he said: "I would like to be remembered as one of the first politicians who rejected political correctness, and did what's right.''
Naugle's comments have pissed off gay candidate Dean Trantalis, who is running for the seat: "He needs to be responsible with the words he says- he is totally irresponsible and shameless in the comments. Why does he keep bringing it up? He keeps bringing it up because it grabs the headlines. The Mayor has some serious problems with sexual orientation and enough is enough."
Posted 9:15 AM EST by Andy Towle in Fort Lauderdale, News | Permalink
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Naugle's comments are not out of line. As gay men we need to own our behavior and accept responsibility for some of the discrimination that we bring upon ourselves. Being gay is not an excuse giving us free license to fuck whoever, whatever, wherever, and however we want. And unfortunately many of us act as if it is...
Posted by: Jerry | Jul 11, 2008 9:40:21 AM
Yea by 'responsible gays' he means those like Larry Craig, Mark Foley, and Ted Haggard. You know, shining examples from deep in the closet.
Posted by: Wes | Jul 11, 2008 9:40:27 AM
I agree with that Jerry, but I also agree that this guy focuses way to much on the 'gay' problem, as Mr. Trentalis pointed out.
But what do I know, I'm just an unhappy queer.
Posted by: Wes | Jul 11, 2008 9:43:55 AM
Sorry, I don't mean to get off topic right off but I'm leaving town in a few minutes so I wanted to get post in about a piece I just heard on CNN.
Many of the Bahama and Caribbean reggae bands are throwing their support behind Obama. From the lyrics I've heard only because he is black.
Why they support him is none of my business however if any of these groups are the homo-haters we've been hearing about I think gays be alert, speak up and be heard.
If I get even a whiff that he accepts the support of one of these hate groups I'm sitting home on election day!
Posted by: leftfield | Jul 11, 2008 9:49:45 AM
Leftfield please stay home. I, for one, am sick of all these stupid, ignorant people who are looking for any reason not to vote for Obama because they don't want to admit the real reason. The last thing this country needs is the influence of people like yourself and those pathetic entitled white woman Hilbots who think the world revolves around them. If you don't want to vote, then don't. In the end, if McCain wins you and your kind (the uneducated working class, women etc) will be the ones most hurt by McBush's policies. The rest of us "elitist latte drinkers" will be just fine. Stay home.
Posted by: Pulease | Jul 11, 2008 9:59:59 AM
Does Jim know that the majority of those men at the park are married to women? Gay men have sex at home, closeted married men have sex at the park.....they can't do it at home, their wives and kids are there.
Posted by: cj | Jul 11, 2008 10:04:35 AM
By "responsible gays" he means people that have a little more self-respect than to sneak off to go fuck bareback in a public park.
Posted by: Robert | Jul 11, 2008 10:07:40 AM
Or even a competent heterosexual for that matter, and, why is it always the unattractive ones with issues on gays?
Posted by: Luke | Jul 11, 2008 10:14:40 AM
Excuse me, Pulease. Have you been reading posts in this very blog as to the treatment of gay in the Caribbean? Hello?
Stupid . . . ignorant??? Are you aware of the hateful "kill the fags" lyrics these groups are spewing?? Are you aware of the anti-gay mood prevalent in the Caribbean?
If you want your candidate to accept this as the game plan to win votes fine for you.
And what about the New York City "I'm glad I'm straight" parade the raggae groups are putting on?
Ok, perhaps your correct I shouldn't stay home. I'll vote for McBush. At least I know where he stands.
And what's with all this class divisiveness talk? I am an "elitist latte drinker."
Have you read anything in the realm of gay news in the last year?
Posted by: leftfield | Jul 11, 2008 10:19:53 AM
cj - That's a load of BS. Have you looked at Craigs List lately? There are a lot of married guys on there but the vast majority are out and proud gay men.
Posted by: Robert | Jul 11, 2008 10:20:58 AM
He looks like he's been waiting all his life for a homosexual to "fill his seat".
Pulease, believe it or not Obama is not perfect and there are many reasons to not favor him as your candidate, other than the obvious one that I assume you are referring to.
I'm voting for Bob Barr because I'm more of a Libertarian than a Democrat. For some reason the idea of having the government out of my business as much as possible is appealing to me.
Posted by: paul | Jul 11, 2008 10:23:30 AM
it always amuses me to see judgmental "monitor your gay behavior" fags like jerry come out of the woodwork whenever such topics as these are discussed... suck and fuck my dahlings whenever and wherever you wish, it is your birthright... fight for your right to be queer... amen... but cj is right, too...
Posted by: the queen | Jul 11, 2008 10:25:43 AM
Lot's of candidates for Naugle's position among the Towleroad commentators! They can point to their record now.
Derrick, John, Ernie and I will sit this one out.
Posted by: Kevinvt | Jul 11, 2008 10:26:07 AM
Leftfield if you are so dumb as to think that what goes on in the Carribbean (yes, horrible) has more impact on your daily life that what McBush will do to you via the Supreme Court and the Fundies, healthcare and the economy, then yes, you are the very definition of stupid and ignorant. You are in a much better position to help others when you yourself are protected. What exactly will voting for McCain do to help the gays in Jamaica?ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
The question is have YOU been reading anything OTHER than your local fag rag? Yours is a tiny tiny world.
Posted by: Pulease | Jul 11, 2008 10:32:30 AM
One part of me says Naugle is exploiting prejudice but the other part of me says he has a point. Sometimes I think that we in the gay community are not critical enough of our fellow gays for the way they indulge themselves under the gay rights banner. Having sex at truck stops is not about gay rights, it's about sleaze.
Posted by: jason | Jul 11, 2008 10:44:14 AM
Hear that towleroad-joe. my.god, etc? Pulease thinks your "fag blogs" play are a tiny part in the gay world at large. Guess he put you in your proper slot.
Obviously from my original post I listen to CNN and other stations follow daily kos and read the LA Times. So get off my back
And thanks for aknowledging the threat fom the raggae endorsements which is what this is all about!
Posted by: leftfield | Jul 11, 2008 10:55:05 AM
Somehow even this thread has turned into a debate about Obama and theoretical reasons for why we shouldn't vote for him. Give it a rest! And spare us the "important" interruptions.
As for Naugle, if he were gay, can you imagine him getting away with saying, "I think a responsible heterosexual could fill my seat." No, because it's a ridiculous statement! A gay candidate is much more apt to "do something" about the AIDS crisis in Fort Lauderdale than some condescending straight idiot. I can't believe that some of you are taking his homophobic bait.
Posted by: Ernie | Jul 11, 2008 11:11:52 AM
Leftfield, what do you expect obama to do? Say something like "I reject the endorsement from homophobic raggae groups in the carribean" at his next speech? Do you know what the "streisand effect" is? Not many people think about homophobic raggae, so acknowledging them will only bring them more attention than they deserve.
Posted by: anon | Jul 11, 2008 11:13:09 AM
If Obama doesn't reject these homophobic reggae bands, many gays won't be voting for Obama. The ball's in Obama's court.
Posted by: jason | Jul 11, 2008 11:20:59 AM
Jason, et al., we get it. You don't like Obama. You never liked Obama. You never will. Vote for McCain. Stay home. Whatever. I'm not sure why people who have no intentions to vote for Obama no matter what he does or says find it necessary to restate it over and over, even when Andy's post has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Obama. Desperation, perhaps?
Lord, reading today's comments is like rewinding to April Fool's Day. And Jim Naugle (remember him?) is still homophobic.
Posted by: Ernie | Jul 11, 2008 11:35:10 AM
Hmmm. I live in NYC and I haven't heard about a "I'm Glad I'm Straight" parade. If so, I'm sure my queer self and hundreds of others will show up and smack some of those Jamaican assholes. Anyway, having sex in piss-rooms and in the bushes never was cool to begin with and is even less so now.
Posted by: mike | Jul 11, 2008 1:05:09 PM
Fuck Jim Naugle.
And fuck all the overly judgmental shit going on in here. You don't like people having sex in parks, truck stops, or wherever? THEN DON'T HAVE SEX THERE. I don't and I probably never will. I'm way too much of a clean freak and I'm not willing to take chances with my health. I also wouldn't have sex with someone who does/would. Those are my choice; no one's stopping me from making them. Try showing those who DO choose to take such chances some basic decency and respect and stop treating them like "bad-gay" pariahs.
Posted by: Chas | Jul 11, 2008 2:22:59 PM
Yes those that make the choice to engage in degenerate behavior should be lifted up...they are pioneers...applaud them! No wonder people are afraid to let their kids arounds gays.
Posted by: Jerry | Jul 11, 2008 3:24:26 PM
I think a lot of you are giving way too much credit and power to the influence of homophobic reggae bands. I would guess that Obama would just (wisely) ignore the entire issue, instead of making it seem like they reflect or influence a huge voting bloc. Come on, how many huge fans of Caribbean reggae do you think even vote? And outside of small parts of NYC, how many would even hear about this endorsement? As for actual residents of the Caribbean, they can't vote in the US...so who cares. It's a non-issue.
Posted by: Paul R | Jul 11, 2008 3:34:38 PM
I'm, with Paul R. I hope Obama ignores the issue, but frankly even if he makes mention of it, he has my vote. And gays have spoken up about these bands and been heard!
Leftfield - you obviously have informed yourself. I'm stunned however, that you would throw away your vote because of some idiot reggae bands that are not US citizens.
If Obama rejects their endorsement, would you like him as president to launch an invasion of Jamaica to institute thought correction camps?
There's plenty of homophobia in the world but you are looking for a perfect prince on a stallion to come sweep you off your feet and create the perfect USA. Not gonna happen - ever.
Posted by: dave | Jul 11, 2008 5:54:03 PM