A city council member in New York City is refusing to apologize for saying that the Bronx City Council is “controlled by the homosexual community,” The New York Daily News reported over the weekend.
Ruben Diaz, who has represented the 18th District in the New York City Council since January 2018, made the comment while speaking on the Spanish-language radio program, “El Desahogo," last week, according the Daily News, sparking demands from other politicians for an apology.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio sent out a tweet saying that “The disgraceful and homophobic comments made by Ruben Diaz Sr. don’t reflect this city’s values. The council member owes an apology to @NYCSpeakerCoJo and 8.6 million New Yorkers.”
But Diaz has instead doubled down on his comments, telling the Daily News that they are the truth and not homophobic.
He added in a tweet that "what’s homophobic about saying that the gay community controls the NYC city council? I’m giving them credit for the power and influence they have."
Diaz told the Daily News he now fears he could be removed from his high-ranking position on the Committee on For-Hire Vehicles, calling himself the victim.
“You see the list of elected officials that are calling on me to apologize. That shows how much power they have,” he said. “I’m the victim here.”
Diaz has provoked outrage in the past from fellow Democrats due to his opposition, for example, to access to abortion and gay marriage. As a New York state Senate member, he was the only Democrat to vote against a marriage equality bill in 2011.
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