New York State Rep. Ruben Diaz (D-South Bronx)
(CNSNews.com) - Speaking at the March for Marriage rally in Washington, D.C., on April 25, New York State Senator Ruben Diaz (D-South Bronx) spoke in favor of traditional marriage saying, “Marriage between a man and a man is not biblical,” and, “It doesn't matter what the Courts say. Christ lives.”
He also questioned why Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Elena Kagan, each of whom has officiated at same-sex marriage ceremonies in the past, have not recused themselves from Obergefell v. Hodges, the same-sex marriage case that comes before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Diaz was the only elected official to address the rally.
Speaking through a translator, the Puerto Rico-born Diaz told the crowd, “We're here under the guidance of our Lord Jesus Christ. We're here between the Washington Monument and the Capitol building where the laws are made. We're here to say to the entire world that we are not ashamed of the Gospel, for it's the power. We are not ashamed of the Gospel; it's power of God. We're not ashamed of the Gospel, 'cause it's power.”
He continued: “All of you fear God. That's why we're here. That's why we came here. Because we fear God. Because we have to fear God. That's why we want the people to know that.”
Sen. Diaz told the audience that he was the only Democrat who voted against the New York State Marriage Equality Act in 2011.
“I'm going to say this with a lot of pride. When the same-sex marriage act came to the legislative floor in Albany, this little black man right here...was the only Democrat in the State of New York that voted against that legislation,” he said.
He continued: “We are here to say, once again, today, I'm the only elected official present. I am the only official elected person here, and I belong to the Democratic Party of New York. In New York City, a liberal state where everybody's liberal, where everybody goes with the liberalism, but me as a senator in New York -- and I keep saying that marriage between a man and a man is not biblical.”
“We're here to say we put our position, everything God gave to us, (at) the feet of Jesus. Let the Lord do what he do. He will do what he wants, but never we shall deny Christ because he's our Savior. He's our Redeemer because he gave his life for us. Because he's coming back. He will reign. It doesn't matter what the courts say. Christ lives.”
Diaz believes Justices Ginsberg and Kagan should disqualify themselves from voting on the case before the Supreme Court because they cannot be impartial: "[T]hey both have married people of the same sex. And they are going to decide whether it's right or wrong...They made already their choice, and by doing that, they already said where they stand, and why don't they abstain from voting?”
On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported, the Supreme Court will hear two-and-a-half hours of arguments on two questions: whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry; and whether states must recognize same-sex marriages from elsewhere.
The March for Marriage is an annual rally organized by the National Organization for Marriage, which supports traditional marriage between a man and a woman.
Along with Sen. Diaz, other speakers included Brian Brown, president of National Organization for Marriage, Rev. Bill Owens, founder and president of the Coalition of African American Pastors, Cathy Ruse, senior fellow of Legal Studies at the Family Research Council, and Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel.