NY Democratic primary candidate wants to ban pictures of same-sex couples from textbooks
by Rob Howard
Associate Editor
The old axiom that “Politics makes strange bedfellows” takes on new meaning when you discover that a Democratic candidate for New York’s state Senate wants to ban pictures of same-sex couple from textbooks in the state. S. J. Jung is challenging incumbent Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky in the Democratic primary for the Queens district.
According to the New York Daily News, made the remarks in March to a group made up primarily of Korean churches. Jung, a businessman, is an immigrant from Korea.
Towleroad.com reported, “In a statement to the NY Daily News, Jung did not deny raising the issue of seeking to keep pictures of gay couples out of textbooks. He also confirmed that he opposes same-sex marriage because he believes ‘in the Bible’s teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.’ He added that his opposition to marriage equality is a ‘matter of distinction, not a matter of discrimination.’”
“He also said he spoke at the March 28 meeting of the dangers faced by groups who are not in agreement with the Supreme Court's ruling upholding gay people's rights to marry,” said the News.
“As for citing legislation that would ban same-sex couples from being pictured in textbooks, Jung said he was not referring to a specific bill in New York, but to ‘a general trend in the nation.’
"’As a nation we must protect the rights and freedoms of all, regardless of their views on this matter,’ he said.”
LGBT leaders in New York’s Queens Borough were quick to criticize Jung’s remarks. The News reported, “Councilman Daniel Dromm, chairman of the education committee and one of the first openly gay public officials in Queens, called it ‘hard to believe that someone from New York State, especially someone from Queens would continue to hold those views in this day and age.’
"’He is ignoring reality; same sex couples exist,’ Dromm said. ‘Children see them. They know about them. They should be taught about them. What is he going to do, continue to deny reality? We're everywhere.’"
Jung’s concerns relating to same-sex marriage are not referenced on his official website, according to Towleroad.com.
The New York state primary is September 13.
Copyright 2016 The Gayly – August 30, 2016 @ 10:10 a.m.