With Ritchie Torres declaring victory in the Democratic primary for New York’s 15th congressional district, the New York City Council member appears on his way to becoming one of the first openly gay black men elected to Congress — but progressive advocates say that took a dedicated campaign to flip the script on his anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion opponent.
Claims the New York City Council is “controlled by the homosexual community” and LGBTQ people are “cursed” were among the anti-LGBTQ views Bronx City Council member Ruben Diaz Sr.
have expressed, making him a rare breed among Democrats. As a state senator in New York, Diaz Sr. was the chief Democratic opponent of legalizing marriage equality in 2011.