In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch on Sunday, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell compared gay and lesbian citizens of Ohio to arsonists and kleptomaniacs. People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas issued the following statement.

“Equating gay people with violent criminals is a surprising level of ugliness even for someone with Ken Blackwell’s record of promoting second-class citizenship for gay and lesbian Ohioans. It’s clear that Ken Blackwell isn’t running to be a governor who represents all Ohioans.”