Holly Schepisi and Bob Auth Embrace Anti-LGBTQ, Anti-Gun Safety Extremist Who Headlined Bergen GOP Fundraiser

Schepisi and Auth Have Often Opposed Protections for the LGBTQ Community and Sensible Gun Safety Measures in New Jersey

Emerson, NJ – Anti-equality, Anti-Gun Safety Republicans Holly Schepisi and Bob Auth have embraced a syndicated radio host well known for his anti-LGBTQ bigotry and anti-gun safety extremism. Schepisi and Auth helped raise funds for Bergen County Republicans at an event this morning where the right-wing radio host, Kevin McCullough, was a special guest and featured speaker. Schepisi, whose association with the anti-LGBTQ extremist goes back even further, appeared with McCullough when he headlined a 2017 fundraiser hosted by the Bergen County Women’s Republican Club.

The Record reported last month that McCullough was to appear at the fundraiser, noting that he had once compared same-sex marriage to people marrying dogs. McCullough has also been dismissive of the fact that hateful bullying and harassment had a role in Bergen County resident Tyler Clementi’s tragic death.

Schepisi opposed marriage equality when it passed the Legislature in 2012, in line with Governor Christie, who vetoed the bill. Schepisi voted against the marriage equality bill in committee and abstained when the bill came before the full Assembly.

In the 39^th district, Schepisi and Auth serve alongside Senator Gerald Cardinale, one of the most vocal anti-LGBTQ extremists in the Legislature and the lone legislator from either party to speak out against marriage equality. Cardinale once said gay people would commit “violence” to marriage if their [civil] unions were legally recognized and was one of nine members of the Senate to vote against banning the dangerous and medically discredited practice of so-called sexual orientation conversion therapy for minors.

McCullough, who is also a controversial far-right columnist, has also been outspoken in his extreme anti-gun safety rhetoric, even penning a columns calling for arming teachers in the wake of school shootings and attacking students who survived the shooting in Parkland, Florida as “angry and opportunistic” and a “belligerent band of media-hyped know-nothings.”

Bob Auth was given a 100% record in 2017 for favoring the positions of the National Rifle Association and Holly Schepisi had a 93% record that year, consistently supporting the gun lobby’s opposition to sensible gun safety measures.

“There should be no place in our politics for such extremist ideology and hatred of people for simply who they are or who they love,” said Emerson Council President and Retired Mahwah police officer Gerald Falotico. “John and I are running for Assembly because we reject completely the kind of extremism that opposes sensible gun safety measures or promotes division, bigotry and discrimination against New Jersey families.”

“Robert Auth and Holly Schepisi embrace a far-right extremist whose anti-LGBTQ, anti-gun safety views are well documented, while building anti-equality, anti-gun safety records in the Legislature,” said Westwood Mayor John Birkner. “Families in our district deserve representatives who will stand up for civil rights and equality and work for stronger laws that protect our homes, schools and communities against the epidemic of gun violence.”