We’ve known for some time that virulently anti-gay New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr. has two gay brothers. And now, thanks to an interview with the New York Times, we also know that he has a gay granddaughter. And an old friend who works for him in the Senate. And a former campaign aide.
I love them. I love them,” says Mr. Díaz, who grew up one of 17 children in Puerto Rico. “But I don’t believe in what they are doing. They are my brothers. They are my family.”
His voice rises again. “So how could I be a homophobe?”
. . . “My religion doesn’t allow me to dance,” he said. “But that does not mean I don’t go to the party. My religion doesn’t allow me to drink. But that doesn’t mean I can’t hang around with my friends. My religion is against gay marriage. It means, I don’t agree with what you do. But let’s go out. Let’s go to the movies. Let’s be friends.”
Sounds almost sweet, doesn’t it? Almost understandable, doesn’t it? Except Nathaniel Frank isn’t taking any of the sugar-coated crap. In today’s Huffington Post, Frank writes:
It’s fine, Senator Diaz, for you not to dance, but are you leading the effort to make dancing for others illegal? It’s fine for you not to drink, but where is your fierce leadership on reviving that super popular and effective age of Prohibition? It’s fine for you not to get gay-married, but why insist on denying others the rights you enjoy? And where is your outrage about all the Jews and Muslims and atheists who are legally allowed to get married even though, according to your religion, they’re all going straight to hell? And where is your righteous effort to outlaw Jews’ right to observe the Sabbath on the “wrong” day, or to keep Kosher? Might that seem a bit anti-Semitic? And maybe a bit absurd?
Diaz is proud that he visits Christopher Lynn, his openly gay chief counsel, when he’s in the hospital. Too bad his opposition to Lynn’s right to marry could mean his partner’s healthcare isn’t even covered by insurance. “He is a true believer in Christian values,” says Lynn by way of defense, “in treating people the way you want to be treated.” What on earth is he talking about? Chris, Diaz got married, but doesn’t want to let you do the same! Where are you unclear about this? The correct answer to Diaz’s invitation to go to the movies even though he leads the charge against your rights is not to defend your boss as a true Christian and enjoy your double dates; it’s to say, “go to hell, and find yourself a new chief counsel while you’re there.”
You know you’re in the wrong when Nathaniel Frank gets worked up and starts swearing.
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