Fort Lauderdale mayor makes controversial comments on radio show

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Fort Lauderdale's mayor is no stranger to controversy. Jim Naugle's comments about the gay community have attracted national attention in the past, and now he's at it again.

Naugle spoke about the two gay mayoral candidates vying for his position Thursday morning on an AM radio talk show, on 850 WFTL, offending more people with what some of them are calling more anti-gay comments.

The radio host asked Naugle about the protests he inspired last year when he said public restrooms needed to have a timing device that unlock to deter gays from using them as places for sexual relations. "Do you want to be remembered as the guy who said no gay sex in public restrooms?" the radio host asked. Naugle instead said that he wanted to be remembered as the mayor who rallied against political correctness.

Naugle also said City Commissioner Dean Trantalis and newcomer Earl Rynerson, both openly gay candidates running for his position at the end of his term in 2009, might have a chance if "they were responsible homosexuals running for office that reject that kind of activity, recognizing that promiscuous activity has a heavy cost on human life and dollars. Then I think they would have a chance.''

Both candidates said Naugle is gay bashing by insinuating gays are sexually reckless. "I'm outraged, as everyone in this community has become with the continued obsession this mayor has with gay male sex," said Dean Trantalis.

Earl Rynerson said becoming the next mayor has nothing to do with sexual orientation. "I don't think it matters," he said. "I think what matters is you get a leader in office that can balance the budget, control costs, recognize and appreciate diversity."

When asked to clarify his statement, Naugle spoke at a park he said is known for gay cruising, where men can meet to have sexual relations. "It does matter if they don't think it's wrong that this park is advertised on the Internet as a place where men can meet to have sex," he said. "That is a big problem, and that's going to be the key for someone to get elected in Fort Lauderdale."

One gay resident said the best way to deal with these latest inflammatory comments was to not even talk about it. "I don't think we should even protest any more," said resident Giovanni Calcaterra, "just ignore him, ignore him, ignore him."

Ned Skubie, another gay resident, said Naugle's comments about the candidates was plain irresponsible. "I think the assumption's that all people act in a bad way, and all of us don't," he said.

There has been bad blood between Naugle and the gay community for awhile. Last year he caused another stir when he said he preferred the term "homosexual'' to "gay'' since gays are "unhappy.''

Earlier that year, gays organized a "flush Naugle" campaign after he portrayed bathroom trysts as part of the gay lifestyle. "He says a lot of ridiculous things, and he's wrong," said Calcaterra.

Naugle has reached the end of his term limits as mayor and will leave office in March 2009. Despite his past comments, Naugle insists that he is not anti-gay and when asked if he would endorse one of the gay candidates he said "possibly."

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IF YOU ARE GAY, BE GAY AND SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO KISS YOUR ASS ORSMILE AND PRETEND THEY ACCEPT OR AGREE WITH YOU. SOME PEOPLE DON'T AND WON'T.GET OVER IT. ANTI GAY MY ASS. "YOU CALLED ME A HOMOSEXUAL" AND "YOU SAID A RACIAL SLUR". i AM SO SICK OF ALL THE FUCKING WHINING.