'Anti-Gay' Mayoral Appointments 'Disappoint' Local LGBTQ Leader

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A Forest Hills LGBTQ leader spoke out against Mayor Eric Adams' choice to appoint a pastor who rallied against gay marriage and a politician who praised a law criminalizing homosexuality to his administration.

"As a member of the NYC Council’s LGBTQ Caucus, I am disappointed with a number of [Mayor Eric Adams'] appointments," wrote Forest Hills City Council Member Lynn Schulman, alongside a joint statement written by the City Council caucus.

Part of Schulman's Council platform was advancing LGBTQ rights, which she said she's been advocating for ever since she struggled after coming out. "[LGBTQ people] have the right to be heard, share our ideas, and be counted by our society," she said during her campaign.

In the letter she co-signed alongside the Council's seven-person LGBTQ Caucus, Schulman demanded that Adams rescind Fernando Cabrera and Erick Salgado's appointments as a senior faith adviser and an assistant commissioner in the mayor's immigrant affairs office, respectively, pointing to both men's "anti-gay histories."

The caucus singled out former City Council member Cabrera as Adams' "most egregious" appointment, pointing to a video statement he made in 2014 praising a Ugandan law that imposed life sentences for homosexuality.

"Gay marriage is not accepted in this country," Cabrera said of Uganda. "The Christians here took the opportunity to take their rightful place."

Cabrera later issued an apology on his Facebook page contending he had been unaware of the specifics of Uganda's policies, which Adams told Gothamist he accepted.

Other leaders, however, have not accepted the apology. Christine Quinn, the first openly gay, female City Council Speaker who worked with Cabrera, said his apology was not up to par and called him a "homophobe and a danger."

The LGBTQ caucus, similarly, called him a bigot. "His appointment to a taxpayer-funded position is an affront to us as individuals and as a caucus, and would be an insult to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers," the caucus wrote.

The caucus also challenged Salgado's appointment, noting that he marched with state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. against marriage equality in 2011 and was endorsed by the National Organization for Marriage, a homophobic nonprofit group, in his 2013 mayoral bid.

Salgado claims his views have "evolved as society has evolved," according to a statement sent out by the mayor's office.

"As MOIA Assistant Commissioner, my mission will be to lift up immigrant communities across our city, including LGBTQ+ immigrants, who often face barriers to accessing needed services," Salgado said.

But the LGBTQ caucus argued Cabrera and Salgado's homophobic histories disqualify them from assuming positions in Adams' administration which they argue could easily be otherwise filled.

"Our democratic government should represent the people, and its officers should be individuals on whom all New Yorkers can rely," the caucus said in its statement. "Our city is home to plenty of qualified potential candidates for these roles."

The City Council statement adds to a growing number of activists and elected officials who have condemned Adams' appointment of Salgado, Cabrera and a third pastor, Gilford Monrose, who is leading the mayor's new faith-based office.

Monrose has called homosexuality a "lifestyle I don't agree with" and attacked marriage equality and LGBTQ adoption, according to Gay City News.

The Mayor's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment specifically about the LGBTQ Caucus' statements.

Patch editor Anna Quinn contributed to this report.