Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Gay City News reports:
Nearly a dozen national political groups — including LGBTQ, women’s rights, Latinx, and Jewish organizations — are uniting to send a clear message to residents of the 15th Congressional District in the South Bronx: Do not vote for anti-LGBTQ Bronx City Councilmember Ruben Diaz, Sr.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the LGBTQ Victory Fund, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Latino Victory Fund, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC, Bend the Arc Jewish Action, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality PAC, and People for the American Way sounded the alarm about the 77-year-old congressional candidate, pointing to his history of homophobia and opposition to reproductive rights.
The Victory Fund has compiled statements from all of the groups. They write:
It’s not just that Díaz Sr. is out of step with the values of New Yorkers, he doesn’t have the best interests or well being of those in the district at heart. The Bronx, where the 15th District is located, has the highest abortion rate in the state.
Latinx voters — who make up the majority of the district — overwhelmingly support the right to access abortion.
Latinx millenials are more likely to identify as LGBTQ than any other group and the New York City metropolitan area has the largest LGBTQ population in the country with more than 750,000. As time has passed, Díaz Sr.’s policies have never been more disconnected from the priorities of New Yorkers.
Gay City News notes that the above-named groups have not as yet coalesced behind any of Diaz’s opponents, although the Victory Fund has endorsed out gay NYC Council member Ritchie Torres. Last night Diaz retweeted the below tweet.
I just read an article from the Gay City News. In the article Richie Torres says that he is a
“card carrying member of the gay mafia.” SHAME on you Richie Torres for degrading the gay community and comparing it to the mafia. SHAME on you!— Oswald Denis (@OswaldDenis5) May 16, 2020
From that article:
“About a year ago he said the City Council is controlled by the gay mafia,” Torres said before injecting some humor into the conversation with Victory Fund political director Sean Meloy. “As a card-carrying member of the gay mafia, I think that’s the most accurate thing he has ever said.”
Days after Diaz spewed homophobia about the City Council, he defiantly voiced more cringeworthy comments about LGBTQ people in a lengthy interview with Gay City News at his district office, telling this reporter, “What is wrong with what I said? That the gay community has power and control? Yes, they do!”
He added, “I don’t believe in gay marriage, I don’t believe in abortion, I don’t believe in drinking, I don’t believe in smoking, and I don’t believe in dancing.”
As longtime readers know, I have reported hundreds of times on Ruben Diaz’ viciously anti-gay actions, which have included leading thousands of evangelicals on multiple anti-gay hate marches through the streets of New York City.
At one of those hate marches, one of Diaz’ approved speakers cited the bible verse calling for executing homosexuals. Diaz’ openly lesbian granddaughter was standing nearby at the time.
Four-term incumbent Rep. Jose Serrano announced last year that he will not seek reelection due to Parkinson’s Disease. The crowded Democratic field for NY-15 includes Diaz, Torres, former NYC Council member Melissa Mark-Viverito, and nine others. NY-15 has been in Democratic hands for decades and the Republican candidate, Orlando Molina, is a long shot, to say the least.