Cory Booker on gay rumors: 'I want to challenge people on their homophobia'

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker (D) addressed what he described as questions about his sexuality in an interview with the Washington Post, saying he wanted to challenge even supporters on homophobia.

"I love seeing on Twitter when someone says I'm gay, and I say, 'So what does it matter if I am? So be it. I hope you are not voting for me because you are making the presumption that I'm straight,'" Booker told the Post in the interview, published on Monday, adding adding that he has started dating women. He did refuse to say whom he was dating, though, and only clarified that he is not seeing Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington, with whom Booker was linked six years ago.

"How unfair is it to a young lady to put them in the spotlight if they haven't signed up for that yet? Booker told the Post.

Booker credited his renewed effort in finding a "life partner" to a conversation with an unidentified pastor friend, who, according to the Post, advised him that he needed to get married.

The Democratic senatorial candidate was also apparently surprised when Post reporter Jason Horowitz told him they both had been counseled by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that each man's lack of offspring created holes in their hearts.

"I thought that was just for me," Booker told Horowitz. "It caught me completely off guard. I don't believe it's just a line -- like in [the book] This Town."

[h/t Talking Points Memo]

[Image via CBS News]