New York lawmaker
quits amid gay sex scandal

An upstate New York lawmaker has resigned his post in the legislature as well as his day job following reports of a gay sex scandal. Ryan Karben represented Rockland County in the state assembly until last week, when he vacated his seat amid allegations that he had made improper sexual advances toward young male interns, including invitations to watch gay porn. Karben is an Orthodox Jew, married, and the father of three. After resigning his seat, the assembly almost immediately removed Karben's biography and photo from its Web site. And on Monday, the law firm Kurtzman Matera Gurock Scuderi and Karben deleted "Karben" from its name to reflect his apparent ousting. Partner Howard Gurock told the New York Post that "everything involved in that decision was done privately and internally" and that he would not comment on Karben's status. (Sirius OutQ News)