A group of conservative New York State Democratic Senators, dubbed the “Gang of Four” are threatening to withhold support for Sen. Malcolm Smith as Senate Leader unless a clear signal is sent that no gay marriage legislation will be allowed to get to the floor of the legislature. In a statement released on word that one of the “gangs” members, Sen.-elect Hiram Monserrate had decided to support Smith, Sen. Ruben Diaz of the Bronx said:
“If Senator-elect Hiram Monserrate has made a decision in Puerto Rico to endorse Senator Malcolm Smith, that is his decision. I have not made a decision yet and hope the others have not either. I have not committed myself to anybody, and my position as an ordained minister and a pastor will not allow e to support any would-be leader that will bring gay marriage to the Senate floor.
“This is nothing new. Mr. Smith and all my colleagues have known my position for more than a year. That does not make me a Republican. Where is it written that in order to be a Democrat you have to suport gay marriage? And where is it written that if you do not support gay marriage you are not a good Democrat? I have always been a Democrat. I remain a Democrat, and I will continue to be a Democrat. A Democrat who rejects gay marriage and abortion based upon my beliefs.”
Sen. Carl Kruger of Brooklyn and Sen.-elect Pedro Espada of the Bronx are the other two members of the group.
ChicagoJimmy
Excellent. He is free to his position. He should never have an abortion or marry another man.
An Other Greek
Ruben Diaz — SHAME SHAME SHAME
District Office
1733 East 172nd Street
Bronx, NY 10472
Tel: (718) 991-3161
Fax: (718) 991-0309
Albany Office
304 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
Tel: (518) 455-2511
Fax: (518) 426-6945
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ajax
Mr. Diaz, if your position as an ordained minister impacts your ability to legislate constitutional equality, then you must decide between your two careers. I’m sure that your constituents, and every citizen of the fair State of New York (myself included) will support you when you decide to recuse yourself from your council seat.
Buh bye!
technicolornina
@ChicagoJimmy: *applause*
Dishy
I REALLY don’t get this anymore. Separation of church and state? HELLO ???? HELLO ???? WTF has happened to this country!?
Gay Numbers
@Dishy: a) 30 Years of indoctrination by conservatives that have been telling us that there is no seperation. b) ALso 30 years of conservatives saying such things equal protection is subject to rule of the majority etc.
Alexa
Well, it will be nice to have an actual person to blame if we get screwed out of our civil rights on this coast as well.
Kid A
@Alexa: No kidding. He looks especially douchey as well.
fredo777
@ChicagoJimmy:
haha
Chapeau
” … A Democrat who rejects gay marriage and abortion based upon my beliefs.”
Once again an elected official who needs a course in American Civics.
Since when do *his* religious beliefs get to determine my Civil Rights?
Mauricio
I am a gay Latino Democrat and Senators Diaz and Espada do NOT speak for me and thousands of other gay and straight Latinos in NY and elsewhere. We need to put these people in their place, and vote them out of office. Enough. Separation of church and state, yes, we believe in it. Whoever says the contrary is not telling the truth.
Ed
This is great (actually)!!
I remember when SF sanctioned gay marriages years ago and there were many who questioned when NY would take the helm. Having lived in SF for a time it’s easy to see why. NY is still part of the old school ideologically corrupt system whose ties to their “communities” are suspect and definitely NOT progressive.
Hopefully our community will shine light on these senators in particular and pressure change. It will not be easy however when you consider the districts they represent.
Nonetheless, we should not be lagging in the rights afforded all of our citizens here in NY, including marriage and equality for everyone.
Let the battles begin…
Anarchos
@Ed: Right. The MAYOR of SF sanctioned gay marriages, not the entire California State Senate, which this post is about the entire New York State Senate, and one of its members whose constituents reside in the borough of The Bronx. Not all members of our state senate are in favor of marriage equality, but some are. I think it’s inaccurate and a little naive to believe politicians in the east represent something more corrupt than politicians anywhere else.
For all the progressiveness that California and the west coast supposedly represents, it’s here in the east that marriage equality has first taken root–in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
KDOGG
This is obscene, Sorry sir but supporting discrimination, deciding that you need to make religious decisions for others, and being against equality does make you a bad Democrat and something closely resembling a Republican.
Maybe Gays should work on taking their rights away…. I’m just saying, we’re protesting lets make it interesting Gays
Tom in Lazybrook
Call them on their bluff. Let them go vote for the Republicans. I dare them. Then watch their people vote them out.
Tom in Lazybrook
Its time for us to contact our leaders in the State Senate, the Governor’s office, and the State Assembly and let them know that we won’t have equality blackmailed away.
Tom in Lazybrook
One final comment, have did any of them recieve any campaign contributions from Utah? I’m just asking…
The Gay Numbers
What is especially offensive is that the state is facing some of the hardest economic times since the 1970s.
pissyrabbit
I started writing letters to them and I got so angry that I had to stop.
All of the stuff that’s going on and these asshats want to hijack the senate for THIS?!?!
Anyone have or has written a strongly worded letter to a senator that could help me? I really can’t seem to type anything other than “What the fu*k is wrong with you?!?”
Xyecoc
You have to remember that in the hispanic community gay is not cool – he is doing what the people who voted him into office want him to do.