Sag Harbor mayor investigated over alleged homophobic comment
The comment was made on an Instagram video by Rebecca Chavez, a Texas resident. The video shows her and her wife, Deanah, dancing to a song.
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The village of Sag Harbor has opened an investigation into Mayor Thomas Gardella after he posted a comment described as homophobic on a social media video.
The comment appeared on an Instagram post by Texas resident Rebecca Chavez, which showed her and her wife, Deanah, dancing to a song. Gardella wrote: “What’s that thing in the background? A guy a girl? Some creature?”
“Comparing someone to a creature or a thing kind of took me back a little bit, and that’s what made me dive a little bit deeper,” Chavez told News 12. “It’s a little surreal.”
Chavez said she searched Gardella’s name and discovered he is the mayor of Sag Harbor.
“We shouldn’t be used to these kind of comments but we are,” she said. “Elected officials should be held at a higher standard.”
Gardella told News 12 by phone that he could not comment further on the investigation. He apologized Tuesday night during a village board meeting.
“I would like to apologize for my comment. I also would like to apologize for my many friends in the LGBT community who feel disappointed in me,” Gardella said at the meeting.
“They always make an apology after the fact. So for me, his apology is not genuine,” Chavez said.
David Kilmnick, president of the New York LGBT Network, said the incident is a reminder that communities must stay aware.
“The fact that this happened halfway across the country and that we didn’t know about it here in our own backyard is something that we all need to pay more attention to,” he said.
Sag Harbor residents also reacted to Gardella’s comment.
“I know Tom, I’ve known him for a long time, and I know that in his heart that’s not really where he’s at. I think it was bad judgment,” resident Steve Hamilton said.
“I think the apology was very disingenuous and I don’t believe it for a minute. I think he’s sorry he got caught,” said resident Erica-Lynn Huberty.
