Perry Criticized for Comments on Alcoholism and Homosexuality

Gay rights organizations as well as Democrats on Thursday criticized Texas Governor Rick Perry after he compared homosexuality to alcoholism. The groups called it toxic and ill informed.

Will Hailer the executive director of the Democratic Party in Texas said that Governor Perry ought to be ashamed of his comments.

While speaking during a trip to San Francisco, Governor Perry received a question about the platform the Republican Party in Texas adopted in early June that encouraged a reparative therapy as a way to cure homosexuality.

Asked whether his belief was that homosexuality was in fact a disorder, the governor replied whether you are compelled to follow one particular lifestyle or you can decide to do that or abstain.

Perry added that he might have the coding genetically giving him the inclination for alcoholic, but he has the desire to abstain and looks at the issue of homosexuality the same manner.

Hailer said as the Republican Governor completes his final term in Austin, he should work to bring together Texans and not grandstand across the U.S. by spewing ill-informed, toxic rhetoric.

A spokesperson for Perry said the governor always had supported the institution of traditional marriage. She said he believes that marriage is made to be between a man and a woman. The spokesperson said Perry has remained clear on that position and that each state has a right to make their own definition of marriage to reflect its citizens’ views.

One organization, The Human Rights Campaign, which is a promoter of gay rights, took the Governor to task as well.

The group said that although Perry might not possess the genetic coding giving him the ability to think prior to speaking, Perry the M.D. should carry on a real conversation with doctors prior to voicing his not so expertise opinion on the matter.

Health groups that have studied reparative therapy as a way to suppress attractions that are homosexual have found it can be harmful psychologically. In particular, with the young, studies show it could lead to suicidal thoughts and depression.