NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Eric Adams faced backlash from LGBTQ+ leaders on Wednesday after appointing three pastors to his administration with a history of anti-gay and anti-abortion views.
Fernando Cabrera, a pastor and former City Council member who was removed from his appointment to the Office of Community Mental Health due to backlash from gay advocacy groups, is now instead appointed to the number two position in the Mayor’s new Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships.
The OFCP will be headed by another homophobic pastor, Gilford Monrose, while a third homophobic pastor, Erick Selgado, was tapped to run the mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs.
LGBTQ+ groups are planning to protest all three appointments at City Hall on Thursday.
Cabrera apologized Monday on Facebook for a video of him praising Uganda for anti-gay and anti-abortion policies in 2014 that circulated after the pastor’s first appointment to OCMH.
“Gay marriage is not accepted in this country. Even when the United States of America has put pressure and told Uganda ‘we are not going to fund you anymore unless you allow gay marriage.’” said Cabrera in 2014. “Why? Because the Christians have assumed the place of decision making for the nation.”
In the apology Cabrera posted on Facebook, he said he was unaware of Uganda’s infamous practice of killing and imprisoning gay people.
“I am deeply sorry for the undue pain and suffering that my past remarks have caused the LGBTQ+ community,” said Cabrera. “I strongly believe in the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation.”
In the apology, Cabrera said his voting record as a city councilmember demonstrates support for LGBTQ+ rights, which is not entirely true.
Cabrera was one of three city councilmembers to abstain in a 45 to 1 vote to punish Ruben Diaz Sr. for homophobic comments against then-speaker Corey Johnson, a gay councilmember.
He also voted against a 2014 bill allowing transgender people to change the gender marker on their birth certificates and is a vocal supporter of Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-gay Christian legal group.
In response to criticism for the appointments, Adams said he accepted Cabrera’s apology.
“Fernando Cabrera has acknowledged the pain that his past comments have caused and has apologized for the words he used,” said Adams. “I heard and accepted his apology. As a man of faith, I have made clear that our administration will serve all New Yorkers equally and fairly.”
Former Councilmember Christine Quinn, who was the first openly gay New York City Council speaker, told 1010 WINS that Cabrera’s apology rang hollow.
“I think people can change and can evolve, but that is not what has happened here,” said Quinn. “He put out an apology that said he was sorry for the words he had used in the past and sorry if anyone had been caused pain. It’s not about the words… It’s the fact that he has stood by and supported incredibly dangerous anti-gay policies over and over again, and someone like that should not be affiliated with New York City government.”
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and Comptroller Brad Lander also condemned the appointments in a joint statement.
"We are deeply concerned about the message that the mayor is sending by appointing leaders who have histories of disparaging the rights, and even the humanity, of LGBTQ New Yorkers and of working to criminalize abortion,” said the electeds. “All New Yorkers need to know that their leaders view them as fully equal people and will work every day to protect their rights.”
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