Sen. Hatch says GOP House leaders feared anti-gay label

[carzen]

U.S. House leaders may have delayed taking action against former Florida Republican Rep. Mark Foley because they were afraid of appearing anti-gay, according to Sen. Orrin Hatch.

.......

Hatch's defense, presented to the Tribune editorial board earlier this week, centered on how busy Hastert is as the Republican leader in the House.

But he also said: "I don't know anybody today in the Congress who wants to act or be homophobic, so that may be part of the problem here."

.......

"It's interesting that Senator Hatch and other members of Congress would express a concern about being homophobic when they have supported a constitutional amendment to define marriage. Do they not consider that be homophobic?" asked Mike Thompson, Equality Utah's executive director.


http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4479584