Brownback:
"Fruits" comment not gay joke

Republican senator Sam Brownback, a potential presidential candidate, said Monday he meant no offense to gay men when he used the word "fruits" in a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine. In a lengthy profile titled "God's Senator," the magazine quotes the Kansas Republican as criticizing countries like Sweden that have legalized same-sex marriage. "You'll know them by their fruits," Brownback said, quoting a biblical passage from Matthew 7:19. Rolling Stone writer Jeff Sharlet said in the story, appearing in the magazine's current issue, that Brownback appeared to be calling gay Swedes "fruits." After gay and lesbian advocacy groups denounced the comments last week, Brownback issued a statement Monday saying his quote "was in no way referring to sexual orientation." "While this biblical passage was pertinent to our overall conversation about faith and deeds, it apparently led the writer to believe I was making a joke," said Brownback, a frequent critic of same-sex marriage who is pushing a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. "I was not and would never do so with such a personal and sensitive issue," Brownback said. His explanation was greeted with skepticism by the Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights organization in the United States. "It's nice to know that Senator Brownback doesn't resort to name-calling from the 1970s, but, unfortunately, his antigay agenda continues to speak for itself," said spokesman Brad Luna. (AP)