Carlos “Charlie” Ramos Provides a Clear Choice vs. Anti-LGBT Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.

Yesterday, we announced the first round of Pride Agenda endorsements for the 2010 election season. Today, we wanted to spotlight the Democratic primary challenge in the Bronx’s 32nd District by Carlos “Charlie” Ramos to take on New York’s arguably most openly homophobic, transphobic, anti-LGBT state legislator: Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.

As you probably know, Senator Diaz is our most vocal foe on marriage equality and transgender non-discrimination in the State Senate. He led rallies against marriage equality, spoke and voted against it on the Senate floor and is reported to have struck back room deals trying to prevent it from ever even coming to a vote. He led the debate against the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act in the Senate Judiciary Committee with unfounded and disproven myths. And he asserted a “one-man veto” to remove budgetary language that would have allowed legally married same-sex couples to file jointly on their New York State income tax returns.

In stark contrast, Charlie Ramos has committed to co-sponsoring marriage equality legislation, and has stated his full support for a statewide transgender non-discrimination law. He is also pro-choice and supports full access to reproductive health.

Senator Diaz and all state legislators need to know that their attacks against the LGBT community will not go unanswered. New Yorkers understand fairness and equality, and want legislators who work to better the lives of their constituents and their families, not to find opportunities to discriminate against them. We want to send a loud and clear message that it is unacceptable that Senator Diaz chooses to thwart equality and justice for all New Yorkers.

Please donate now to the Pride Agenda PAC to help Charlie Ramos in his bid to unseat one of New York’s most outspoken opponents of LGBT rights, and to allow us to support other candidates across the state who are doing the right thing.

A response from the other side

Ruben Diaz, NY State Senator from the Bronx and longtime homophobe, posted the following on the NYTimes Empire Zone blog:

New York State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz Rejects Governor’s Intention to Legalize Gay Marriage

New York State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) opposes New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer’s bill to legitimize gay marriage in New York State, something the Governor considers to be a “simple moral imperative”.

“This is a slap in the face to the millions of New Yorkers who support the moral, legal and traditional definition of marriage as between man and woman,” Senator Diaz stated. “In the minds of millions of New Yorkers, legalizing gay marriage is against our religious beliefs.”

Senator Rev. Diaz is calling for his colleagues in Albany, his fellow ministers, Edward Cardinal Egan, religious leaders, and all New Yorkers who defend the constitutionality of New York’s marriage laws to join him in opposition to this proposed legislation.

Governor Spitzer is the first governor in the United States to introduce legislation to legalize marriage between man and man, and woman and woman. According to Senator Rev. Diaz, “By doing this the Governor shows disrespect and disregard for religious beliefs followed by Jews, Catholics, Muslims, Evangelicals, and every other
State resident who time after times has shown a vast opposition to gay marriage.”

Just so we’re clear on the facts, consider the following:

To Sen. Diaz’s assumption that there is “vast opposition to gay marriage,” we have some facts to the contrary (here, too).

There are also more than a few religious leaders who disagree with Diaz.