Minnesota Official Urged To Resign For Anti-Gay Posts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP/WCCO) -- A St. Paul City Council member is being urged to resign for past anti-gay posts on Facebook.

Gay advocates from Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party are presenting a resolution Sunday at the party's convention in St. Paul asking for Kassim Busuri to resign. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Busuri was appointed to represent Ward 6 in January.

Busuri says his Muslim faith does not support homosexuality and that criticizing his previous posts amounts to Islamophobia. He says he will represent all his constituents regardless of sexual orientation but won't recant his past statements.

The posts came to light Wednesday after Busuri was the only council member not to support a resolution recognizing June as Pride Month.

In one 2014 post, Busuri said he was "going back to Uganda" after the country approved a law criminalizing homosexuality.

On Sunday, Burusi released a statement, saying he wanted to "address the issue because I believe there is a fracture within the Muslim community and the LGBTQ community."

As members of this Party there should be dialogue that brings us to an understanding and respect. As more members of the Somali community become active in the Democratic Party and process, a level of understanding and compassion should be reached for those who fully practice Islam. Equally, there should be a level of understanding and compassion to be reached for those from the LGBTQ community.

Condemning someone for past comments is not the answer. The answer lies within our collective groups to come together and have difficult, but meaningful conversation. I do not and will not discriminate against anyone and I will do all I can within my power to recognize the humanity in each of us and bring people together.

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