Ciattarelli Camp's ‘Homophobic, Antisemitic’ Remarks Slammed By Officials

New Jersey Democrats, LGBTQ+ advocates, and Jewish community leaders came together Tuesday afternoon to condemn the actions of Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and comments made by one of his top advisors.

On Saturday, during a Muslims4Jack event in Piscataway, Ciatarelli’s Executive Director of Muslim Relations, Dr. Ibrar Nadeem, called for a ban on same-sex marriage.

“We want to be in the rooms where decisions will be made,” Nadeem said. “We want to have a ban on same-sex marriage. I know my brother (Ciattarelli) voted against it, and he will do it again. We talk about family. A family comes into place when a man and woman get married, without the same-sex... We oppose same-sex marriage.”

Nadeem also commented on rumors that he was “taking money from Jews,” adding, “I check my bank account every day, brother, it is not there,” before handing the microphone off to Ciattarelli.

Ciatterelli then joked about Nadeem’s comments before telling the audience to give him a round of applause, and calling him “a very impressive man” who “hasn’t let me down one day.”

Read More, See Videos Here: ‘We Want To Have A Ban On Same-Sex Marriage,’ Jack Ciattarelli Aide Says

Democrats are now outraged not only with Nadeem’s comments, but with Ciatarelli’s response, or lack thereof, to them.

A press conference hosted by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee on Tuesday brought New Jersey leaders together to condemn the Republican nominee’s campaign.

“Hate and bigotry have absolutely no place in the great state of New Jersey… But apparently it does have a place in Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “(Nadeem’s) words are disgusting and vile, they’re blatantly antisemitic, they are homophobic, and they have no place in a campaign for governor or anywhere in our great state.”

Other speakers echoed Gottheimer's sentiments, including Boonton Council Member Benjamin Weisman.

“Mr. Ciattarelli had the chance to respond to these offensive remarks, both in real time at the rally or immediately thereafter… He could’ve condemned the comments, made clear that the rhetoric of exclusion and hate has no place in his campaign, or in our state, that he won’t roll back rights. Instead, he chose not to,” Weisman said. “As a Jewish New Jerseyan, as someone who sees what happens when hateful words go unchecked, I take this personally… The New Jersey I know is better than this.”

Also speaking was Maplewood Township Committeeman, former mayor, attorney, and LGBTQ+ activist Dean Dafis.

Dafis was subjected to gay conversion therapy as a teenager, where he was beaten, threatened, forced to watch violent pornography, and subjected to electroshock treatment.

After years of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, the committeeman told residents that New Jersey is “not going back, nor bending the knee, to hate, division, or hostility,” in light of Ciattarelli’s aide’s comments.

“The comments made by Jack’s aide — they are truly vile, reprehensible, and dangerous. Our youth are watching after all, and this is happening at a time of increased bias incidents and hate crimes,” Dafis said. “I know ‘hate’ when I see it, and this is hate… There’s no place for Jack in our backyards, my friends. In Jersey, we stand up for each other, we stand up to bullies like Jack.”

Ciattarelli hasn’t outwardly condemned Nadeem’s comments, but he did attempt to provide context in an X post directed at Democratic opponent Mikie Sherrill, adding “You know I support same sex marriage.”

Other speakers during the conference included Livingston Township Councilman Shawn Klein, Essex County Office of LGBTQ Affairs Director Reggie Bledsoe, Secretary of Atlantic County Democrats Walead Abdrabouh, and NJDSC LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Lauren Albrecht.

All speakers had similar sentiments of condemning Ciattarelli, demanding Nadeem be fired, and supporting Sherrill.

When asked what steps will be taken by Democrats if Ciattarelli does win and begins rolling back same-sex marriage legislation, Gottheimer told Patch, “Mikie is going to win, so it’s not an issue.”

What The Polls Say

A recent New Jersey poll from Quinnipiac University shows Sherrill still holds a slight lead with 50 percent of voters backing her over Ciattarelli, with 44 percent of voters backing him.

A previous Quinnipiac poll in September showed Sherrill receiving 49 percent of support while Cittarelli received 41 percent of support, showing that Sherrill still has the lead, but it has closed slightly in the last month.

Read More: New Poll Shows Latest Shift In NJ Governor’s Race

Election Day is Nov. 4, and Early In-Person Voting begins Saturday.