Republican hits out at 'gay brainwashing'

The conservative Republican candidate to be governor of New York has told Orthodox Jewish leaders he doesn't want children "brainwashed" into thinking homosexuality is acceptable.

Carl Paladino, a multi-millionaire property developer, has already stated that he is opposed to gay marriage.

Mr Paladino, who has received strong support from conservative "Tea Party" activists, made the comments at a Brooklyn synagogue this weekend while trying to strike a contrast between himself and his Democratic rival, state attorney general Andrew Cuomo.

Mr Paladino said he chose not to march in this summer's gay pride parade, but his opponent did.

"That's not how God created us," Mr Paladino said of being gay, "and that's not the example that we should be showing our children."

However, he skipped one line from his prepared text in his speech at the synagogue: "There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual."