paladinoThis morning, New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino is defending anti-gay-marriage comments he made on Sunday while addressing a group of Orthodox Jewish leaders at a campaign stop in Brooklyn. In his prepared speech, Paladino indicated that children must be protected from homosexuality, when he told the group, โ€œI donโ€™t want them to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexual activity is an equally valid or successful option. It isnโ€™t.โ€

In todayโ€™s Good Morning America appearance, Paladino defended his opinion, stating that he is not homophobic and has โ€œno reservations whatsoever about gaysโ€”except for marriage.โ€

When pressed by anchor George Stephanopoulos about his beliefs as to whether or not he believes homosexuality is a choice, Paladino said he has โ€œhad difficulty with that.โ€