Statement by NYS Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx)
On Today’s Assembly Vote for Homosexual Marriage
June 19, 2007

As a legislator of Hispanic origin, today I am very disappointed with
those members of the Hispanic delegation in the State Assembly for
supporting homosexual marriage in New York.

It is sad that the Hispanic legislators in the NYS Assembly will vote in
favor of homosexual marriage today. Our community as a whole - Black,
White, Asian, Islamic and Hispanic - is at least 80% against homosexual
marriage. Most New Yorkers are from communities that believes in moral,
traditional and family values.

My fellow legislators, Adriano Espaillat, Jose Peralta, Jose Rivera,
Felix Ortiz, Peter Rivera, Naomi Rivera, Luis Diaz, and Adam Clayton
Powell all have decided to vote in support of homosexual marriage.

This is against the Jewish Religion, the Islamic Religion, and Christian
Religions. These religions do not support the belief in or practice of
homosexuality.

Even though the members of the New York State Assembly, controlled by
the Democratic Party and guided by the Speaker Sheldon Silver, today
will approve and authorize gay marriage in New York State, I am
confident that the New York State Senate, controlled by the Republican
Party, will not allow this to come to the floor of the Senate.

I would like to praise those members of the New York State Assembly who
resisted pressure from the Governor, from their fellow members, and from
the gay and lesbian communities and will vote against this bill.

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