JANESVILLE, Wis. — A 19-year-old Republican candidate for the Wisconsin state Assembly has apologized for describing gays as “fags” in a Christmas day Twiiter post expressing disapproval over a same-sex marriage ruling.

Five months before announcing his candidacy, Jacob Dorsey tweeted “fags need 2 leave my favorite state alone” after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit refused to issue a stay in a federal court ruling last year striking down Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage.

“I regret using unacceptable and hurtful language on social media last year and sincerely apologize for doing so,” Dorsey said in a statement to the Janesville Gazette.

“I recognized the inappropriateness of the tweet shortly after sending it and promptly deleted it. I am a staunch supporter of traditional marriage, but the language I used is not in keeping with my character, family values and Christian upbringing, and I fully acknowledge that,” said Dorsey.

Dorsey’s Twitter account has since been deactivated, but a screenshot of the tweet began circulating last week by NOManiacs, a group that exposes hate speech by the National Organization for Marriage and others.

Dorsey’s apology comes nine months after the original post, and only after NOManiacs began forwarding the screen capture to media outlets.