Mongiardo faces allegations about sexuality

10:24 AM EDT on Friday, October 29, 2004

He's a single doctor from eastern Kentucky, and Daniel Mongiardo is finding it's tough to be a single man running for public office....addressing innuendoes from Jim Bunning's campaign, head-on:

Hebert: Are you gay?

Mongiardo: No.

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Senator Mongiardo is dealing with the gay issue because of comments by two Republican leaders of the Kentucky senate. At Bunning rallies, State Senate President David Williams has referred to Mongiardo as “limp-wristed.” And Wednesday, Senator Elizabeth Tori said about Mongiardo, “He is no gentleman,” and went on to say, “he may not even be a man.”

Both Republicans deny they were trying to insinuate Mongiardo is gay. UofL political science professor Phil Laemmle isn't buying it.

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U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Mongiardo

“The reason people do that is because it works,” he says. “There’s nothing better than challenging someone’s sexuality.”

In fact, State Senator Mongiardo is one of the prime sponsors of the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Kentucky. Bunning hasn't personally made any remarks about Mongiardo’s sexual orientation, but he's getting the blame from Mongiardo.

“These are the despicable acts of a desperate senator who is dangerously out of touch with reality,” Mongiardo says.

For Mongiardo, he's hoping the talk about his personal life might help.

“It’s a shame,” he says. “But I’m hoping all this attention will get me a couple of dates.”

Mongiardo is in the same position Bunning was in a few days ago, when he addressed rumors about his mental fitness. In Bunning’s case, his behavior, statements and odd campaign fed the rumors. In Mongiardo's case, Frankfort reporters hadn't heard any speculation about his sexual orientation until the campaign trail statements by Bunning supporters.

Web story produced by Jay Ditzer.