VALLEJO, CA – Vallejo’s Mayor Osby Davis is coming under fire for comments he recently made about gays and lesbians.
Davis (pictured, left) finds himself in the middle of a controversy after an interview published this weekend in the New York Times. The article, titled “Faith and Tolerance Collide in Vallejo,” quotes Davis talking about gay people, saying, “They’re committing sin and that sin will keep them out of heaven.”
He also calls Vallejo “a city of God.”
In a published report Wednesday in the local Vallejo newspaper, the mayor apologized in a prepared statement, saying that his words were taken out of context.
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In response to the mayor’s remarks, the gay community is planning a demonstration on the steps of city hall next Tuesday.
Lou Bordisso, an openly gay priest, said public officials or community leaders who make inflammatory remarks against any minority group create an unsafe environment.
“It gives a sense of legitimacy to hate crimes,” said Bordisso.
Charles Legalos, a former planning commissioner and gay activist, told The Vallejo Times-Herald that he planned to ask the City Council to censure the mayor. “His comments were completely out of line,” Mr. Legalos said. “They have no place coming from a city official.”
