Sunday is expected to be a joyous day for advocates of same-sex marriage, with a midnight wedding in the shadow of Niagara Falls and a later one at Gracie Mansion between one of Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s chief policy advisers and his long-time partner.

But Rev. Ruben Diaz, the Bronx Democratic Senator who has long been one of the most vocal critics of same-sex marriage, is calling all those who oppose the bill to a “Stand Up and Be Heard Let The People Vote” rally on Sunday in front of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office.

I am unclear what Diaz means here by “let the people vote,” since voters did elect the representatives who ushered in the bill, and polls show that a majority of New Yorkers support the legislation.

Diaz also takes aim at the cost of keeping the clerks offices open on Sunday to handle the demand among LGBT couples to marry, even though by most accounts legalizing same-sex marriage will be a net economic benefit to the state.

Either way, full Diaz statement below:

This Sunday a thousand people will demonstrate in midtown to let Governor Cuomo and to Mayor Bloomberg know that even though the same-sex marriage law was approved by the legislature we will not be silenced!

In a city where teachers and public employees are being laid off, and fire houses are being closed for lack of funds, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has decided to spend city funds to have government offices open on a Sunday to perform same-sex weddings.

Having had this bad law passed, we should not retreat in fear the way the Apostles did in the days after the crucifixion and before the resurrected Christ came to reveal himself. Instead, we need to maintain the same drive that the Apostles had after the resurrected Lord filled them with the Spirit.

We have initiated a campaign requesting a referendum so that the 20 million citizens of New York State can vote on and decide whether or not they want same-sex marriage in New York or not.

Let the people vote!

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