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发帖数: 4174 | 1 Posted on Advocate.com June 06, 2011 07:45:00 AM ET
Lesbian Granddaughter of Ruben Diaz Speaks
By Julie Bolcer
Erica Diaz, the lesbian granddaughter of New York state senator Ruben Diaz
Sr., speaks for the first time about the personal pain caused by her
grandfather, “Albany's most outspoken marriage equality opponent.”
Diaz, 22, spoke about her feelings to the New York Post. She described an
inability to stay silent as her grandfather, a Bronx Democrat, amplified his
attacks against the marriage equality bill that could see a vote in the
Republican-controlled senate in the next two weeks.
“When I was younger, marriage equality was not an issue for me,” said
Erica, who was discharged from the Navy under the “don’t ask, don’t tell
” policy. “But now, as my grandfather ceaselessly and callously comments
on the issue, each and every word stings, since I live with my girlfriend of
2½ years, Naomi Torres, and our two sons, Jared and Jeremiah Munoz.”
Last month, Erica attended a rally against marriage equality hosted by her
grandfather, in order to force him to face her. The senator introduced his
granddaughter and told the crowd of some 2,500 people, including National
Organization for Marriage president Brian Brown, that he loved her.
However, Erica said to the Post, “You cannot tell someone that you love
them and stay silent when people call for their death. ‘Love’ is empty
when you say someone's life isn't natural.”
“He could quietly vote ‘no’ if that's what he believes is right,” she
continued. “But I want him to know that every word he utters hurts his own
blood.”
Last Friday, Bronx advocates announced that Erica would help them lead a
march and rally on August 7 in direct response to the event organized by her
grandfather on May 15. The action will call attention not only to marriage
equality, which may have received a vote by then, but also to problems
including youth homelessness and the HIV epidemic that disproportionately
challenge the Bronx LGBT community.
Erica has decided to speak out as the New York State Catholic Conference
warned that the state senator, a Pentecostal minister and ally in their
fight against marriage equality, has been subjected to “hate speech” and
“death threats” for his beliefs. Specifically, Catholic Conference
executive director Richard Barnes posted a Facebook note on Friday that took
aim at an upcoming gay erotica contest mocking Diaz.
“And this is all known to the press and in the halls of the Capitol. So
where is the outrage in the media?” wrote Barnes. “Where is the cry for
tolerance and justice for Rev. Diaz against these hate purveyors? The answer
, sadly, is that there is no outcry. Are they saving it for after something
truly awful happens to this good man? Until the hate that is being incited
boils over into violent behavior?" | m******1
发帖数: 19713 | 2 http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/grandpa_gay_of_reckoning_rsa
This time it was not his words that hurt me. It was his silence.
My grandfather, state Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz, spoke about marriage equality on
a Spanish radio station in April. He was joined on the airwaves by a priest
who said, "Gay people are worthy of death."
Papa didn't say anything. I was shattered.
I am the gay granddaughter of Albany's most outspoken marriage-equality
opponent. Until now, out of love, I closeted my feelings about my family's
patriarch, who has so vehemently denounced gay rights.
But my grandfather should know that as he continues to skewer the marriage-
equality bill on the radio, television and in newspapers, I am listening and
reading. And I've finally conjured the courage to stand up for what is
right.
Last month, his face graced the cover of a newspaper announcing his May 15
rally against gay marriage. I uploaded a picture to my Facebook page and
wrote, "Could you imagine how I feel?"
It's a feeling that's lingered throughout my life. As a teenager I concealed
my nature. But I couldn't continue to live in silence.
I was 16 years old when I sat my mom down and told her I was a lesbian. She
told me that she loved me and accepted me.
I feared my father's reaction most -- since he is the reverend's son. My mom
told him for me, and he embraced me, too.
I never told my grandfather.
Three years later I was watching grandpa do a TV interview. "I'm not
homophobic. I have gay family members. I have a gay granddaughter."
I was stunned that he outed me on the air, since I never spoke to him about
it directly. So I marched myself to his church and sat him down in his
office and told him that I was a lesbian.
"You're my granddaughter and I love you. I don't agree with it, but I
respect you," he said.
When I was younger, marriage equality was not an issue for me. But now, as
my grandfather ceaselessly and callously comments on the issue, each and
every word stings, since I live with my girlfriend of 2½ years, Naomi
Torres, and our two sons, Jared and Jeremiah Munoz.
This fight is personal.
My family deserves the same benefits as others. Naomi -- whom I would like
to marry -- should be able to do things that straight married people take
for granted, like make a decision for me if I'm sick.
And my grandfather has witnessed our love. At Christmas he lovingly played
with our children.
But as he continued to ratchet up his rhetoric, something in me snapped. I
decided to show up at his rally last month on the steps of the Bronx County
Courthouse so that he could face a person he loved, a person who was gay, as
he spoke against us.
That day I waded through the religious crowd and saw children as young as
mine say hateful things. "You're not God's child. One man, one woman. You're
not living by God."
I was so nervous that morning that I threw up. I spoke against him across
the street, directly within his view.
But then I approached a police officer who escorted me to the podium where
he spoke. My grandfather introduced me to the crowd and kissed me on the
forehead. "This is my granddaughter," he said. "She chose her way of life,
but I chose God's way, but I love her."
Grandpa even called me after the rally, to say that he was proud of me for "
respectfully speaking up for what you believe in."
You cannot tell someone that you love them and stay silent when people call
for their death. "Love" is empty when you say someone's life isn't natural.
He could quietly vote "no" if that's what he believes is right. But I want
him to know that every word he utters hurts his own blood.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/grandpa_gay_of_reckoning_rsaYZu2OwMpkIDXUFhbDFI#ixzz1OXGoHB1b | m******1
发帖数: 19713 | 3 这老头真是民主党里的败类
民主党里反同的也见过，但没见过象他这么拼了老命积极反的，还竟然组织集会 |
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