Janice Daniels, the newly installed
mayor of Troy, Michigan, is under fire for criticizing New York's
decision to legalize gay marriage, the Troy
Patch reported.
Daniels, a Tea Party favorite, wrote in
a June 25 Facebook status update: “I think I am going to throw away
my I Love New York carrying bag now that queers can get married
there.”
Equality Michigan, the state's largest
gay rights advocate, expressed dismay as the status went viral on
Friday: “We are shocked and appalled and call on the mayor to
apologize, and to endorse a non-discrimination ordiance in her city
that protects gay and transgender residents of Troy from the harm
that such language breeds.”
Denise Brogan-Kator, executive director
of Equality Michigan, added: “I find it discouraging that a leader
of people can have such disregard for the lives of people she serves.
Many of us use the word 'queer' as a way to reclaim a word that has
historically been used to hurt us, by the majority. Clearly, from
the context, this is NOT what Mayor Daniels intended.”
Daniels refused to apologize.
“I firmly support marriage as being
defined as between one man and one woman and I am not going to change
my position.”
“The groups that despise me are
digging deep to try to find something to worry about. They probably
should start worrying about how they can best work with a new mayor
who believes that we live in a free country and we all have first
amendment rights to speak our minds on any and all issues that are
before us,” she said in a statement.