Last week Rabbi Noson Leiter, head of the Rockland County-based Orthodox Jewish advocacy group Torah Jews for Decency, said that Superstorm Sandy was God’s response to same-sex marriage in New York. This crackpot said: "The Lord could punish particular areas with a flood, and if we look at the same-gender marriage recognition movement that's occurring, that certainly is a message for us to learn."
Adding that lower Manhattan is "one of the national centers of homosexuality," the homophobe claimed, "We have to learn that if we don't shape up the Lord will deliver divine justice.”
On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement in response to the rabbi’s letter: "The comments made by Rabbi Noson Leiter that sought to link the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy to our state’s embrace of marriage equality are as offensive as they are ignorant.
"This kind of hateful rhetoric has no place in our public discourse, and is particularly distasteful in times of tragedy. Our state is proud to offer equal rights to all our citizens, and we will never tolerate the use of a tragedy like Hurricane Sandy to promote a divisive and bigoted agenda. I call on Rabbi Leiter to apologize immediately for his hurtful comments."
Thank you, Gov. Cuomo, who continues to show leadership in our state and is one of few politicians who truly stands by what he believes. *
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