Ruben Diaz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ruben Diaz Sr. (b. 1943) represents the 32nd District in the New York State Senate, which includes the Bronx neighborhoods of Castle Hill, Clason Point, Parkchester, Morrisania, Hunts Point, Melrose, Pelham Parkway, Union Port, Longwood, and Soundview.

Born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Diaz has been a resident of New York City since 1965. Prior to arriving in New York City Diaz had served in the United States Armed Forces beginning in 1960, ultimately obtaining an honorable discharge three years later.

He would go on to graduate with a Bachelor's Degree from Herbert H. Lehman College, subsequent to which he became an ordained minister-in 1978-of the Church of God, whose headquarters are located in Cleveland, Tennessee. At the same time, Diaz served as Executive Director of the Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc., and as a pastor at the Christian Community Neighborhood Church.

In 1993, Diaz was appointed to serve on New York City's Civilian Complaint Review Board, and in 1997 he received an honorary doctorate from an evangelical university located in the Dominican Republic

Diaz expressed anger at Governor Eliot Spitzer after Spitzer reversed course and abandoned his plan to allow illegal immigrants to obtain New York driver's licenses. Diaz said he had been betrayed by Spitzer.

Prior to his election to the State Senate in 2002, Diaz served on the New York City Council, where he was the only elected member who was also an ordained minister.

Senator Diaz has a son, Ruben Diaz Jr., who currently represents District 75 in the New York State Assembly

[edit] Opposition to Gay Rights:

In 1994, while on the Civilian Complaint Review Board, Diaz was critical of the city hosting the Gay Games claiming that doing so would lead to an increase in AIDS cases and to wider acceptance of homosexuality by young people. [1] Diaz was wrote that hosting the Games would lead children "to conclude that if there are so many gay and lesbian athletes then there is nothing wrong, nor any risks involved." [2] The other members of the Board issued a unanimous rebuke of Diaz’ comments. [3]

In 2003, he filed a lawsuit to stop the expansion of the Harvey Milk School (a school for gay students who had suffered discrimination in traditional settings) claiming that the school infringed the rights of heterosexual students. [4] [5]

In 2007, as his party, lead by Governor Eliot Spitzer and Lt. Governor David Paterson, sought to recognize gay marriage and expand rights for the LGBT community, Diaz was a vocal opponent of the gay marriage bill and was highly critical of Democratic support for the bill. [6]

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Lucy Cruz		 New York City Council, 17th District
2002		 Succeeded by
Pedro Espada
Preceded by
Pedro Espada		 New York State Senate, 32nd District
2003 – present		 Incumbent