Officials Blast Hasbrouck Heights Mayor For 'Anti-Gay Comments'

HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ —Two federal officials have condemned "anti-gay" comments by Hasbrouck Heights Mayor Jack DeLorenzo.

Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Josh Gottheimer, who represent New Jersey's ninth and fifth congressional districts, strongly condemned the comments in a joint statement they issued Monday afternoon.

"There is no place for anti-gay bigotry in our communities or within our political institutions," the congressmen said. "These comments are the exact opposite of our Jersey values and family values. Mr. DeLorenzo should apologize immediately."

DeLorenzo came under fire for a Facebook post that was posted early Wednesday morning, hours after the polls closed on Election Day and defeated Councilman Christopher Hillman for mayor. Hillman is the borough's only openly gay official, NorthJersey.com reported.

DeLorenzo and Hillman did not respond to requests for comment

People came out in support of and against DeLorenzo's post:

"Heard about this comment states away from appalled friends. Leadership of this town was a deciding factor in moving out of it," Dorothy Pensabene said in a comment on DeLorenzo's post. "Do better. The people of your town deserve it."

"Families come in all shapes and sizes. 'Father Knows Best' went off the air decades ago," Phelan M. James said in a comment. "Bigoted 'values' are visible from miles away. The world has changed. Get with the program."

" I have to disagree with you, Jack. Family values would have prevailed had your opponent won," Laura Rothrock said in a comment. "Bigotry is not a family value."

"Family values? Please explain how your opponent represented values that would have hurt families. I'll wait," Amy DeGise said in a comment.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com