Politics

Texas

San Antonio City Official Doubles Down On Anti-Gay Remarks

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio, Texas city councilwoman who was secretly recorded during a staff meeting last May 21, in which she said homosexuality is “so disgusting” and “against nature,” said in a press conference Tuesday that “political correctness will not win the day” and she stood by what she said.

Elisa Chan told reporters and her supporters crowded into the media briefing room in City Hall she stands by her beliefs and alleges that her recorded comments were taken out of context; she also said she has an expectation of being able to be safe and free to express her personal opinions during those meetings. Chan added she would “not change my own values of beliefs for political gain or survival.”

Chan also took aim at her former aide James Stevens, who she accused of violating the confidentiality agreement he had signed which was a prerequisite for employment with her office.

In an interview Monday with a local media outlet she said;

“The comments from the staff meeting on May 21st were and are my personal opinions and thoughts as guaranteed to me by the 1st amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” said Chan, in a statement. “It is unfortunate that a former member of my D9 Council team betrayed the trust of my staff members and me. I will fight, I will always fight for our freedom of speech, especially in a private setting.”

Chan also took aim at San Antonio Express-News columnist Brian Chasnoff who had first broke the story last Friday accusing him and the paper of taking her language in the recording “out of context” in its reporting on the matter.

Chan said she was unavailable for comment when the story broke this past weekend because of a pre-planned family vacation to celebrate her daughter's birthday.

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