GOP Candidate For Congress Accused Of Telling 6th Grader Gay Marriage Is Like Marrying A Dog

A North Carolina Republican candidate for the U.S. Congress last night reportedly compared same-sex marriage to marrying a dog. Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger, Jr. reportedly made the comments to a 6th grade student at a candidate forum organized and held by a local private school, the Greensboro Montessori School.

“Lana Torres, a sixth-grader, began by saying she supports gay marriage and asked Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger Jr. what he would do to work for equality in marriage laws,” the News & Record reported:

“Two years ago, the voters of North Carolina overwhelming approved Amendment One, which only recognized traditional marriage, and I was a leader in that effort,” Berger said. “I was the spokesperson for traditional marriage in North Carolina, and I am very much in favor of traditional marriage.”

Torres reiterated her support for gay marriage to Berger after the forum, and later said she was disturbed by his response.

“He talked about a man marrying a dog,” Torres said. “I found that really offensive, that he would compare gay marriage to something so offensive and outrageous.”

The New Civil Rights Movement called District Attorney Berger’s office to confirm he indeed made the remarks but he did not return our call, but we were able to contact Equality North Carolina.

“What has been indicated that Phil Berger, Jr. expressed is unacceptable and completely out of touch with North Carolina values,” Equality North Carolina’s executive director Chris Sgro told The New Civil Rights Movement today by telephone. Sgro, who lives in Greensboro, said that attitudes like Berger’s “are not going to do him well with Greensboro voters.” He added that “Equality North Carolina is committed to pro-equality candidates who can win these races.”

 

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