S.J. Jung, a Democratic hopeful from Queens, has promised constituents that if he were elected to the State Senate, he would remove all images of gay couples from school textbooks and continue to oppose same-sex marriage.

Jung, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky in the election this September, made the comments earlier this year in front of a Korean religious group.

In the March meeting, he asked the congregation to offer up their prayers for his victory “so [he could] get elected to the New York State Senate to stop same-sex marriage [and others issues of concern] from happening.”

In a statement to the New York Daily News last week, Jung did not deny making the remarks, clarifying that his objection to homosexuality is a "matter of distinction, not a matter of discrimination."

He added that his desire to create legislation that would remove gay couples from textbooks was not specific to New York, but was in response to "a general trend in the nation."

"As a nation we must protect the rights and freedoms of all," he continued, "regardless of their views on this matter."

Jung has since been heavily criticized for his beliefs by members of Queens' LGBT community, including out councilman Daniel Dromm.

Dromm said it was "hard to believe that someone from New York, especially someone from Queens, would continue to hold those views in this day and age."

"He is ignoring reality; same sex couples exist," the councilman concluded. "Children see them. They know about them. They should be taught about them. What is he going to do, continue to deny reality? We're everywhere."

Stavisky, who bested Jung in the 2014 Democratic primary, voted in favor of marriage equality in New York. As of this writing, her camp has not commented on the controversy.

h/t: Towleroad