Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch Outraged over Outrage

Ed Koch is steamed over the new Kirby Dick documentary Outrage, which exposes closeted politicians who work against gay rights. But he's not pissed because it says he's gay, but because he says the film defiles his record (the film claims his record on AIDS and gay rights was virtually nonexistent).

 Says Koch to Page 6: "It's a [bleep]ing outrage. Bella Abzug and I, in the early '70s, introduced in Congress a bill that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation...And when we later said the law applied to contractors doing business with the city, the Catholic Church and the Salvation Army sued me. In 1984, I was the first mayor to march in the Gay Pride Parade. I was the first mayor to appoint openly gay judges."

Koch recently told the NYT it's unacceptable to ask if he's gay, and still won't say if he is.

My thoughts on Outrage here. Outrage trailer AFTER THE JUMP...

(via pam's house blend)

Ed Koch Says It's Unacceptable to Ask if He's Gay

The NYT profiled former mayor Ed Koch over the weekend, and Koch told the paper that it's unacceptable for them to ask him, or political candidates, whether or not they are gay, though he seems to have dropped his anger at former NY governor Mario Cuomo, who first raised the issue of Koch's sexuality during a campaign against him for mayor:

"Mr. Koch’s anger was originally triggered by placards that sprouted in the 1977 mayoral campaign that said 'Vote for Cuomo, not the homo.' The Koch camp blamed Cuomo operatives. Mr. Cuomo has always disclaimed any responsibility. 'If anything, I thought it was done by someone who wanted to see me lose,' Mr. Cuomo recalled last week. 'I never did anything like that and it was a wrong thing to do, whoever did it; it was ugly and unfair. If he believed I did it and forgave me for it, that was kind of him. I always liked him and respected him however he felt about me.' In December, Mr. Cuomo invited himself to a birthday party for the mayor at Gracie Mansion and offered a gracious tribute. Mr. Koch was moved. He recalled: 'Mario always told people, ‘I like Ed a lot more than he likes me.’ The first time he said that, I replied, ‘You’re right, Mario.’ But that’s over with. He said he was sorry.' (For the record, Mr. Koch, a lifelong bachelor, declines to say whether he is gay. 'I do not want to add to the acceptability of asking every candidate, ‘Are you straight or gay or lesbian?’ and make it a legitimate question, so I don’t submit to that question. I don’t care if people think I’m gay because I don’t answer it. I’m flattered that at 84 people are interested in my sex life — and, it’s quite limited.')"

At the time of the Cuomo allegations, Koch said: "No, I am not a homosexual. If I were a homosexual, I would hope I would have the courage to say so. What's cruel is that you are forcing me to say I am not a homosexual. This means you are putting homosexuals down. I don't want to do that."

Koch Makes His Peace and Dares to Look Ahead [nyt]

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Sarah Palin Prompts former NYC Mayor Koch to Endorse Obama

Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch, who supported Bush in 2004, is endorsing Obama today.

Politico's Ben Smith asked Koch what prompted the Obama endorsement: "The designation of Palin to be vice president. She's scary...Any time someone goes to the library and says, 'I want to ban books,' and the librarian says 'no,' and she threatens to fire them -- that's scary."

Read Koch's statement, AFTER THE JUMP...

Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch Celebrates Gay Pride

Actually, 'celebrate' may not be the right word. As the former New York City mayor watched the parade floats go by, his shirt was stained by some sort of liquid projectile.

He didn't appear to be very happy about it, notes Flickr member Boss Tweed, who took these shots.

Koch, a lifelong bachelor, has always denied he is gay, despite rumors that followed him throughout his political career. In 1977, in his mayoral race against Mario Cuomo, when faced with an opposing slogan that said "Vote for Cuomo, not the homo," Koch replied, "No, I am not a homosexual. If I were a homosexual, I would hope I would have the courage to say so. What's cruel is that you are forcing me to say I am not a homosexual. This means you are putting homosexuals down. I don't want to do that."

In 1998, in a 30th anniversary issue of New York magazine, Koch repeated the denials: "Anytime you are mayor, you have critics, and one of the most persistent was Larry Kramer, who happens to live in my apartment building in the Village, and who ran around screaming that somehow I could have prevented AIDS. And the fact is, I did more on AIDS, and more to promote civil rights for gay people, than any other mayor in the country. Kramer’s thrust was that I was afraid that if I showed concern, people would think I was gay. He wasn’t the only one who said that, of course. Listen, there’s no question that some New Yorkers think I’m gay, and voted for me nevertheless. The vast majority don’t care, and others don’t think I am. And I don’t give a shit either way! What do I care? I’m 73 years old. I find it fascinating that people are interested in my sex life at age 73. It’s rather complimentary! But as I say in my book, my answer to questions on this subject is simply Fuck off. There have to be some private matters left."

Below, openly gay New York City Council speaker Christine Quinn and Mayor Michael Bloomberg at this year's parade.

NYC Gay Pride [Boss Tweed - Flickr]