Monday, August 28, 2006

The Rev. Ruben Diaz, Sr. talks about recent NYS ruling on same-sex marriages

Local Spanish-language newspaper IMPACTO interviews the Reverend Ruben Diaz, Sr. on a recent ruling by the New York State Court of Appeals not to recognize the right to marry for same-sex couples.

Diaz, also a New York State Senator from the Bronx, tells IMPACTO that, after the ruling, "there is now no way that organizations, movements or legal claims can get these unions recognized" even if he does expect legislative challenges to the State Constitution. "Perhaps in the Assembly, they (homosexuals) will be able to gather support, because the Democrats are in power, but not in the Senate, where the majority is Republican and some of the Democrats are against gay marriage."

He also continues to blur his responsibilities as an elected official and his role as an evangelical preacher: "I believe that my religion as a pastor and preacher of evangelical teaching, bars me from promoting a law of that kind."

But, in what the newspaper notes is a marked departure from past statements by the Reverend, he also ads "Of what I am absolutely in favor is that there should not be any discrimination against those people based on their sexual preferences in none of these areas," referring to access to education, housing and health services.

Diaz has previously editorialized on the marriage issue elsewhere as well.

Speaking of State Senators from the Bronx, Democrat State Senator Efraim Gonzalez, Jr., was indicted on Friday for allegedly using $37,000 dollars given to a charity organization he founded towards, among other things, trips to the Caribbean and baseball game tickets. Hm, I guess a man is not guilty until proven so, but why is there and indictment here when Diaz himself has gotten away with pretty much the same thing?

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