Broward County commissioners unanimously tossed Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle off a tourism board Tuesday, saying his recent comments on gays are driving away visitors.

Naugle has been talking for weeks in local and national media about his concerns about gay sex in public restrooms. His remarks have angered local and national gay leaders and, according to the county tourism agency, frightened away some straight tourists.

''He has demonized a significant portion of our residents and our visitors,'' Michael Albetta, president of the Florida GLBT Democratic caucus, told the County Commission on Tuesday.

All nine county commissioners criticized Naugle at Tuesday's commission meeting.

''It's unfortunate that someone who goes to church regularly doesn't know the word of being tolerant to everyone else,'' Commissioner Sue Gunzburger said. ``It pains me that there is so much hate in his body.''

Naugle, a Democrat who has served in city office since 1985, has said being thrown off the board won't end his campaign.

''It's strange that none of them called me to get my side of the controversy,'' Naugle said after the vote. ``In some ways, this will allow me to be more involved in trying to influence the members of the Tourist Development Council in the future.''

While Florida's Government in the Sunshine law prohibits members of the tourism board from discussing official business in private, Naugle noted that the law will no longer apply to him, so he can speak with members individually.

In light of the AIDS rate in South Florida, Naugle has questioned why a tourist guide promotes a gay ''bathhouse'' where he said sexual encounters occur. But he said he hasn't called for an end to gay tourism.

Naugle's comments led a San Francisco gay newspaper to call for a boycott of Fort Lauderdale; Broward tourism director Nicki Grossman fielded a call from a mother who worried that her daughter would see men having sex if she attends a soccer tournament here.

Commissioner Stacy Ritter said Grossman told her that a group that signed a deal to hold a conference at a resort that would have brought in $275,000 in economic benefit to the county has placed their event on hold. Also, sports teams are reevaluating travel plans due to concern about whether the community is safe. ''Hate has become very costly to this county,'' said Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin.

Naugle's latest battle with the gay community began a few weeks ago when he said a proposal for single-occupancy toilets at the beach would reduce gay sex in public bathrooms. Ultimately, the city abandoned the idea of buying the toilets for the beach.

Initially, the city said only two people had been arrested for sexual activity in a public restroom since 2005. But Naugle recently said that number is eight, including a recent arrest at Holiday Park, and five men who were nabbed a few years ago in Mills Pond Park.