Official fired for gay remark

WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich has fired his appointee on the Washington Metro transit authority board for calling gay people sexual deviants.

Robert J. Smith, made the comment on a Montgomery County, Md., cable TV show that aired Sunday. Smith acknowledged he had referred to gays as "persons of sexual deviancy," The Washington Post reported.

"Robert Smith's comments were highly inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable," Ehrlich said in a statement. "They are in direct conflict to my administration's commitment to inclusiveness, tolerance and opportunity."

Ehrlich's announcement came five hours after a Metro meeting at which board member Jim Graham called on Smith to disavow his remarks or apologize, or for Ehrlich to fire him.

"As someone who cares deeply about human rights, and as an openly gay elected official," Graham said, "I cannot remain silent in the face of these comments."

Smith said his remark came during a discussion of same-sex marriage, and insisted his personal views are irrelevant to his work on the Metro board.

"Homosexual behavior, in my view, is deviant," he said. "I'm a Roman Catholic."

Ehrlich appointed biotech consultant Raymond Briscuso Jr. to serve the remainder of Smith's three-year term, which expires June 1, 2007.