Sag Harbor investigates Mayor Thomas Gardella after 'homophobic' social media comment

The Village of Sag Harbor has launched an investigation into a comment by Mayor Thomas Gardella on social media that critics described as homophobic and for which he apologized on Tuesday.

The comment was made on an Instagram video by Texas resident Rebecca Chavez, which shows her and her wife, Deanah, who has a short haircut, dancing to a song. Gardella posted a comment: “What’s that thing in the background ? A guy A girl? some creature ?” as written, appearing to refer to Deanah.

After seeing Gardella’s comment, Chavez searched his name, found his status as mayor and posted a second video identifying him and encouraging people to send him emails. She told Newsday that Gardella’s comment was "homophobic" and "horrific."

Deputy Mayor Edward Haye, in a statement during Tuesday’s village board meeting, said Gardella’s comment “disparaged members of the LGBT community."

“Sag Harbor has long prided itself being a welcoming and a tolerant village, and those values deeply matter to us both as members of the village board and as residents,” Haye said. “While the comment appears to have been made on a personal social media account, it has understandably caused concern and hurt within our community.”

Haye said the village board learned of Gardella’s comment on Monday. It will “be reviewed through the appropriate village processes so we … can address it thoughtfully, fairly and transparently.”

After Haye’s statement, Gardella apologized. “I also would like to apologize for my many friends in the LGBT community who feel disappointed in me,” he added.

“This administration holds a high standard of conduct and accountability and no one is above reproach, especially the mayor,” Gardella said.

Gardella, a former village board member who was elected mayor in June 2023, declined to comment further when reached by phone Wednesday, citing the investigation.

Chavez, an animal rights activist with more than 22,000 followers on Instagram, said she and her wife — cisgender lesbians — are used to insulting comments about their sexuality. But Gardella’s use of the word “creature” to describe her wife made Deanah feel like “lesser than a human being,” Chavez said.

"It feels like because of the political climate that we are in, the administration that we currently have, that people are now finding it acceptable to have bad behavior, especially online,” Chavez said. "It's making people very brave, to sit behind a keyboard and make these horrific comments."

Chavez said she and her wife are glad Gardella apologized and that his comments are being taken seriously by the village board through its investigation.

Vincent Toomey, the village’s labor and employment lawyer, said the investigation could last less than a month. If the investigation finds Gardella violated village policy, the investigator will recommend remedial action to village trustees, he said.

Toomey said there are limited options for remedial action against elected officials, but village trustees can recommend additional training or censure.