Remarkable Statement

In the December 7, 2009 issue of the New Yorker was a story about a Dutch politician, Ahmed Marcouch. Mr. Marcouch is a Moroccan born Muslim who now heads the district council of Slotervaart, which has a large Muslim population. In the article, he is quoted as saying:

Look, the fact that one is allowed to be an orthodox Muslim is a right. What people in the neighborhood fail to understand is that gays have the right to be gay. People - gays, Muslim, black, white - should never be forced to be untrue to themselves. The freedom of every individual to insist on his own identity must be defended.

This is a remarkable statement about tolerance. How do you respond to it?