NJ Public Official Equated Being LGBT with Pedophilia

UPDATE: Thomas resigns

At the last Planning Board meeting in Long Branch, there was an exchange between Planning Board vice chair Edward Thomas and an attorney present to oppose a new building for a very popular, heavily trafficked ice cream shop in a more residential part of the city. Here’s what happened, verbatim, as we just heard on the audiotape of the meeting:

Planning board vice chair Edward Thomas told the attorney: “Before you start, I would like to remind you that is an application for a child’s desert shop, and your commentary, if you could please refrain from making any statements extending from your own possibly inappropriate sexual ‘preferences’ in this matter.”

The attorney said, “I don’t know what inappropriate sexual ‘preferences’ are.”

Edward Thomas said, “Keep your pedophilia to yourself, and talk to the facts.”

The crowd gasped in horror.

We haven’t a clue as to whether the attorney is LGBT or not. Regardless, Edward Thomas’ comments were an outrageous homophobic slander on all LGBT people in our state.

Garden State Equality has a zero-tolerance policy for homophobia and transphobia in New Jersey. Please join us Tuesday night to tell Edward Thomas he has to resign.

Help GSE by joining their protest this Tuesday night, April 15, 2008 at 7:00 pm, Long Branch City Hall, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor. For more info, you can email GSE Chair, Steven Goldstein at goldstein@gardenstateequality.com. I’m emailing Steve to see how those of us who cannot make it to the protest can help.