WASHINGTON — A former Republican lawmaker who wants to replace Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) made headlines this week when he drew a comparison between gay marriages and bestiality.

CNN reported March 15 that in an interview with a Florida radio station, former Rep. J.D. Hayworth chided Massachusetts for being the first state to legalize gay marriage, then continued with an equine analogy.


McCain challenger compares gay weddings to marrying a horse

“You see, the Massachusetts Supreme Court, when it started this move toward same-sex marriage, actually defined marriage. Now get this, it defined marriage as simply, quote, ‘the establishment of intimacy.’ Now how dangerous is that?” Hayworth said, according to WORL in Orlando.

Hayworth, who is challenging McCain in the Republican primary for Senate seat, then said he would “make the point of absurdity with an absurd point.”

“I guess that would mean if you really had affection for your horse, I guess you could marry your horse.”

Hayworth did not respond to CNN’s interview request.