Ruben Diaz’s biggest opponent in gay marriage hits own family
Erica Diaz is a lesbian who hopes to marry her love and give her family the same rights that one led by a same sex couple might have. An activist in her own right, Erica is the part of a quickly growing majority in New York actively speaking out in favor of marriage equality. Over the weekend, Erica told her story in an op-ed piece for the New York Post.
Like many other New Yorkers, Erica realizes that the sad truth about New York’s fight to legalize gay marriage might have few foes. The problem is that those who hope to stand in the way of equal rights for sames sex couples are likely to be the ones who really count. That’s because while the rest of the state seems to support marriage equality, many of the State’s elected Senators do not.
For Erica Diaz, the issue hits even closer to home. That’s because her grandfather, Ruben Diaz, is one of the few Democrats willing to stand in her way of equality.
Erica wrote in Sunday’s New York Times: “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.”
Discharged from the Navy as a victim of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Erica is standing strong against her grandfather. Last month, she even showed up to hold a counter-rally to Senator Diaz’s attempt to speak out against gay marriage on the same day as the New York AIDS Walk.
New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, is on Erica’s side of the marriage equality battle. He has called upon the New York State Senate to pass legislation to legalize gay marriage by the end of the month.
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