Tag Archives: Ruben Diaz

Chaos In NY Senate As Renegade Dems Unseat Majority Leader Malcolm Smith

And here, my friends, is where I fear New York’s quest for marriage equality may have ended for 2009. New York’s state Senators today convened an emergency meeting to name GOP Sen. Dean Skelos (left) as the new majority leader as “Gang Of Four” members and Democratic Senators Pedro Espada and Hiram Monserratte have crossed party lines in a 32-30 …

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NYT To State Senate: Vote NOW

An editorial in today’s New York Times strongly rebukes the state Senate and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith for dragging their feet on a vote on marriage equality and calls on them to immediately approve marriage equality. Six states have now made it legal for same-sex couples to marry. New York is not one of them. Gov. David Paterson wants the …

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NY Sen. Tom Duane: We Have The Votes

Openly gay NY Sen. Tom Duane is continuing to claim that a win on marriage equality is possible in the state Senate, saying that he is confident that the required 32 votes are there. Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) said he’s received assurances of support from more than the 32 senators needed to approve the bill. “I have the votes,” said …

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NY Sen. Diaz Takes Credit For Poll Dip

NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz is claiming that his recent anti-gay evangelical rally is responsible for this month’s 7-point dip in marriage equality polling. “I would take credit for the demonstration that we had in front of the governor’s office on May 17,” the Bronx lawmaker told Fred Dicker this morning on Talk 1300 AM. “Before that demonstration, it was …

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Anti-Gay Churches Risk Tax Exempt Status In Campaign Against Pro-Gay Politicians

Mike Tidmus points us to this WCBS story in which NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz promises to use the tax-exempt pulpits of his followers to campaign for the defeat of politicians supporting of marriage equality. Sen. Diaz warned the governor that, even though Latinos traditionally vote Democrat, this is not the time to take their votes for granted. “If we …

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Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz To Sen. Diaz:
You Do Not Represent Latinos!

Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz rocked the house yesterday with her admonition to Sen. Ruben Diaz: “Mr. Diaz: You do not represent the voice of Latinos! Absolutely not! Not in our name!” Go to Andres Duque’s excellent Blabbeando for extensive coverage of both the anti and pro-gay rallies, including many videos.

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Hatred Makes Strange Bedfellows

I thought I heard a shofar being blown at yesterday’s anti-gay marriage rally. “Our accountants will have to do TAXES for married homosexual couples!!!” (Way to hit those stereotypes, Rabbi.) “Next year the perverts will come to you and demand that uncles can marry nephews!” I’d love to annotate this clip with a lie counter. Lie. DING. Lie. DING. Lie. …

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At The Anti-Gay Evangelicals Rally

Even though I knew that today’s AIDS Walk in Central Park would severely diminish our numbers, I’ll confess that I’m disappointed in today’s turnout to oppose Sen. Ruben Diaz’ anti-gay rally outside Gov. Paterson’s office. The haters bused in thousands (many out of state plates on those buses) and one cop told me the mayor’s office had estimated the crowd …

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Sunday: NYC Marriage Equality Rally!

Via press release: This Sunday, May 17, stars of Broadway and Television will come out to perform and rally in support of love, peace and marriage equality. Please join us from 5:00pm – 7:00pm ET on Sixth Avenue at 44th street in Manhattan as we let the sunshine in. “I am thrilled that we are able to come together as …

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State Sen. Ruben Diaz Will Hold His Anti-Marriage Equality Rally This Sunday

Pentecostal minister/NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz will rally Hispanic evangelicals outside Gov. Paterson’s Manhattan office this Sunday in show of opposition to same-sex marriage. The protest is being organized by the radio network Vision Cristiana Internacional and the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. I will advise on any planned counter-demonstration.

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New Poll: Majority Of New Yorkers Support Marriage Equality

A new Siena Research Institute poll (PDF) shows that for the first time, a majority of New Yorkers support marriage equality. Suck it, Sen. Diaz! By a 53-39 percent margin, voters support the Senate passing a bill to legalize same sex marriages that would virtually ensure its becoming law. Democrats, independent and young voters, and women strongly support Senate passage. …

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Diaz Calls For Paterson’s Removal Over Marriage Equality Support

Wingnut Pentacostal minister and NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) says he is planning a May event to call for the resignation of Gov. David Paterson over his support of marriage equality. Diaz: “We will bring out thousands and thousands of Hispanic evangelical Christians in the city of New York to ask Governor Paterson to step aside.” In the NYC …

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NY State Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. Calls “Emergency Summit On Gay Marriage”

Anti-gay preacher and NY state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. is positively freaked about Gov. Paterson introducing a marriage equality bill tomorrow and has called for an “emergency summit.” Oh noes! Homos! Elizabeth Benjamin at the NY Daily News: Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr. has called an emergency summit of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization tomorrow to strategize on the “next …

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Diaz Steps Up The Hate

Anti-gay New York Sen. Ruben Diaz, the ringleader of New York’s now-infamous “Gang Of Three” dissident Democratic senators, has been distributing the flyer below to the press, apparently in reaction to criticism from gay rights and labor groups.Via New York Magazine: It appears that Ruben “I hate gay people more than I like getting things done” Diaz Sr. is beginning …

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Diaz Fans The Flames

The above headline is from Elizabeth Benjamin’s excellent politics blog for the NY Daily News, where today she notes that renegade Democratic NY Sen. Ruben Diaz has issued a statement of support for Rick Warren. Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr., who infuriated gay advocates for tying his state Senate leadership vote to the issue of same-sex marriage, released a statement yesterday …

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Gay City News On Senate Deal Collapse

Gay City News’ Paul Schindler has written a great recap of this tumultuous week in the New York Senate. If you’ve been confused by the alliances, the deals, the un-deals, and where things stand at the moment – read the story. An excerpt: [Sen. Malcolm] Smith has taken a gamble – he and his fellow Democrats may well be consigned …

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Blame The Gays: New York Senate Deal Falling Apart DEAD, Anti-Gay Dems Cut Off

UPDATE: I’m moving this post back to the top because of a breaking development. NY state Sen. Malcolm Smith now says he’s cut off negotiations with the anti-gay “Gang Of Three” because he’d “rather wait two more years to take charge of the Senate” than kowtow to a trio anti-gay Democrats. Sen. Malcolm Smith said today that he will cease …

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NY GOP Tries To Bribe Renegade Dems, Offers $6M To Stop Marriage Equality

The Republican leadership in the New York Senate is trying to bribe the three renegade Democratic senators to support their choice for majority leader with promises of committee leadership positions and access to a multimillion dollar budget. In a move that could help woo three Democrats whose votes will determine which party will control the New York State Senate next …

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Pressure Rises Against NY Sen. Ruben Diaz Over Marriage Equality

The NY Daily News reports today that the Spanish-language newspaper El Diario/La Prensa has called out NY Sen. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) for blocking progress on marriage equality. El Diario: “Rev. Diaz and others are supposedly not for denying rights to gays and lesbians but believe that marriage should be between a man and woman. Yet, it’s this very discriminatory position …

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Video: NYC Marriage Equality Protest

Richard Davis at the NYC LGBT Community Center sends us some great video recapping of Saturday’s protest at City Hall. TOP LEFT: The first video is a compilation of several speakers, including former Miss America Kate Shindle, who was fantastic. TOP RIGHT: New York Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell. BOTTOM LEFT: Openly lesbian actress Heather Matarazzo. BOTTOM RIGHT: The absolute highlight of …

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