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Mayor Says Gay Sex Is Public Health Issue

Naugle Focus Of Criticism From Gay Community

POSTED: Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Michael Rajnor listened Tuesday as Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle, members of HealthyPublicPlaces.com and members of the local clergy spoke on the steps of City Hall about the public health crisis in the city. Then he erupted.

"He should be serving the people," Rajnor said of the mayor. "He should be standing up for people. He should be fighting for funds for housing, for substance abuse, for vocational training. Who the hell do you people think you are?"

Rajnor, a member of the Campaign to End AIDS, directed his comments at Naugle and those who joined him at the outdoor news conference.

"This man has brought such disgrace to the Fort Lauderdale community and the worldwide AIDS community," Rajnor said.

Naugle, in discussing what he perceives as a public health crisis, said eight men have been arrested in two years for having sex in restrooms at public parks.

"The Broward County Health Department states that 74 percent of the new AIDS cases in Broward County are MSM," Naugle said, referring to men having sex with men.

"We want the homosexual community to know that we love them and that God loves them also," the Rev. O'Neal Dozier said. "But God hates the act of homosexuality."

According to the health department, Broward County ranks first in the state for new HIV cases involving men having sex with other men, but the statistics are not narrowed down city by city.

"To have African-American members stand there while this mayor has disregarded the Sistrunk community in funding and not made certain initiatives go forth to help the African-American community, they're hypocrites to use the Bible," Rajnor said.

Naugle, who is in his final term as mayor, has been criticized ever since he proposed spending $250,000 on robotic toilets in the bathrooms at city-owned public parks because he said it would discourage sexual activity inside a bathroom stall. The toilet has a door that automatically opens after a period of time.

"I should have a button on my shirt, probably, (that says) 'political correctness' with a slash through it," Naugle said.

His critics, though, claim the mayor is on a religious crusade.

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