New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who earlier this year said he opposed gay marriage, has admitted having
a homosexual affair and said he would resign.
Declaring that "I am a gay American", Mr McGreevey, twice married and father of two daughters, said on Thursday
he had an affair with another man and that he had been torn over his sexuality since adolescence.
Mr McGreevey, 47, confirmed rumours that have dogged him in recent months as he revealed that "shamefully,
I engaged in an adult consensual relationship with another man, which violates my bonds of matrimony.
"It was wrong. It was foolish. It was inexcusable," Mr McGreevey said during a 10-minute speech.
Mr McGreevey, a Democrat, said his sexuality did not affect his performance as Governor. But he said: "Given
the circumstances surrounding the affair and its likely impact upon my family and my ability to govern, I have decided the
right course of action is to resign."
An aide identified the other man as Golan Cipel, a 33-year-old Israeli whom the Governor hired as New Jersey's
homeland security adviser after taking office in 2002. Mr Cipel resigned weeks later after questions were raised about his
qualifications for the $US110,000 ($A153,000) job. Mr Cipel stayed on as the Governor's special adviser for five months.
Another McGreevey adviser said Mr Cipel was considering filing a sexual harassment lawsuit
against the Governor. Neither Mr Cipel nor his lawyer could be reached for comment.
At his news conference, attended by his parents and second wife, Dina, Mr McGreevey did not name Mr Cipel
or say the man he had the affair with once worked for him. Nor did he refer to a fund-raising scandal that has hovered over
his administration.
"Throughout my life, I have grappled with my own identity," Mr McGreevey said, making reference to his Catholic
upbringing.
The Democrat spoke about the love, strength and respect of his first and second wives but said: "From my
early days of school until the present day, I acknowledged some feeling, a certain sense that separated me from others.
"My truth is that I am a gay American and I am blessed to live in the greatest nation with the greatest
tradition of civil liberties in the world," he said.
"Shamefully, I indulged in an adult consensual affair with another man, which violates the bonds of matrimony.
It was wrong, it was foolish and it was inexcusable. For this I ask for the forgiveness and grace of my wife," Mr McGreevey
told the stunned news conference, Dina by his side, holding his hand.
"I have decided the right course of action is to resign."
He said his resignation would be effective on November 15. He took office in January, 2002.
Mr McGreevey said had he kept his sexuality secret, the office of governor would be "vulnerable to rumours,
false allegations and threats of disclosure. I am removing these threats by telling you directly about my sexuality."
In 2002, in response to a push by New Jersey gays for same-sex marriages, Mr McGreevey said: "New Jersey
state statute has significant meaning not only rooted in common law but in application.
"Any attempt to change this would have a detrimental impact not only upon the statute but clearly to historic
precedents in the state of New Jersey," he said, in a position he has since maintained.
State Senate President Richard Codey, a Democrat, will become acting governor and serve out the remainder
of Mr McGreevey's term, which ends in early 2006.
In declaring his homosexuality, Mr McGreevey became the United States' first openly gay governor - and one
of the highest-ranking gay or lesbian public officials in the country.
- Reuters, Los Angeles Times
