Lorie Zapf wants to replace City Councilmember Donna Frye, but she might not be all that comfy hanging with some of San Diego’s other elected officials, according to CityBeat’s Justin McLachlan:

“I absolutely want to keep homosexuals out of public office and not be allowed to influence our schools, textbooks, altering marriage, children, and on and on,’ [San Diego City Council wannabe Lorie] Zapf wrote in a 2006 e-mail exchange obtained by CityBeat between her and James Hartline, an anti-gay activist.

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She also made it a point to tell him she supported his cause: “I like that you are trying to keep homosexuals and homosexual activists out of public office because we both know what the long term agenda is.” And later: “I do believe homosexuality is a sin. I have three homosexual first cousins. I love them all and would ‘be seen’ in a photo with them. I believe they all live in sin and frankly all are very unhappy people and had horrible childhoods as well.”

Has Zapf progressed from those statements?

When presented with copies of the e-mail, Zapf said her comments to Hartline “do not accurately reflect my views or actions then or now. For many years prior and after this e-mail, I’ve hired gays in my business and have endorsed gays for elected office. But, I recognize my words may still be hurtful, and I apologize for them sincerely.”

And … puft! … as if by magic, her comments vanished in a puff of rainbow-colored patchouli smoke and we all lived happily ever after and got along famously.

Not.

One thing to remember: Closeted homophobia festers in the dark looking for a release.