Remember Jim Naugle, the mayor of Fort Lauderdale who suggested to the city commission that its purchase of a $250,000 robotic toilet for one of the city beaches would go far toward helping curb male-on-male sex in public restrooms? Well, today he apologized, but not to the burgeoning number of gay organizations calling for his ouster:

Naugle apologized for underestimating the problem of men having sex with each other in public restrooms, and urged people to call police to complain when they come upon it. He also said Broward County leads the nation in the incidence of new AIDS cases involving men having sex with men, and questioned whether the county tourism office should be welcoming them here.

“I want to apologize to the children and parents of our community,” the mayor said, “for not being aware of the problem.”

In response to Naugle’s original bone-headed comments, where he noted that he pointedly uses the term “homosexuals” because they are not gay, they’re “unhappy,” an example of what Naugle calls “truth-speech.” gays have created Unite Fort Lauderdale, a coalition calling for Naugle to step down as mayor. In the aftermath of Naugle’s recommendation for the robotic toilet, the group printed up T-shirts with a “Flush Naugle” message.

Naugle issued his apology to the straight community from the steps of city hall, and the following exchange demonstrates the level of discourse in the community:

[Naugle] was flanked by conservative Rev. O’Neal Dozier, who pointed at the lightning and rain and raised his eyebrows to local gay activist Anthony Niedwiecki, whose partner, Waymon Hudson, organized the anti-Naugle group.

“It’s raining on you!” Niedwiecki shouted back.