By Ross Barkan 6/11 9:52am

letters

Erick Salgado. (Photo: Facebook)

Mayoral Candidate Says He Received Three Death Threats

A Democratic mayoral candidate claimed yesterday he received three death threats after an anti-gay marriage group endorsed his candidacy.

Erick Salgado, a socially conservative minister and long-shot candidate, told reporters at a Staten Island mayoral forum Monday night that he was the victim of three emailed death threats after the National Organization for Marriage, a group dedicated to fighting the legalization of same-sex marriage, endorsed him last week.  Read More

By Ross Barkan 4/05 1:36pm

Family Matters

Senator Rubén Díaz addresses the anti-gay marriage crowd in D.C. (Photo: Díaz's office)

Rubén Díaz Sr. Stands Fast Against Gay Marriage as His Own Son Supports It

As the fiery Rev. Rubén Díaz Sr., a New York State Senator, thundered against same-sex marriage in the nation’s capital, his son, Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., was about to do the very opposite. The younger Díaz was joining a wave of politicians who have recently reversed their positions in favor of gay marriage, but his father said he was unswayed by the momentum against him.

“Marriage is sacred. Marriage is an institution established by God and it should stay that way,” he said. “The majority is not always right. 2,000 years ago the majority chose the rabbi and rejected Jesus. Now, the majority are rejecting the Bible and not choosing Jesus. I know my conviction and I know I will not change my view. I could be only one in the whole world and I would not change my view.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 3/26 3:14pm

Gay Rights

Same-sex marriage supporters shout slogans in front of the US Supreme Court. (Photo: Getty)

Jerry Nadler Lauds DOMA Being Sent ‘Into the Dustbin of History’

Manhattan Congressman Jerry Nadler’s constituent, Edie Windsor, is the plaintiff in the Defense of Marriage Act’s U.S. Supreme Court case, and Mr. Nadler says he couldn’t be pumped for the ultimate outcome.

“I am thrilled to be able to take part in this historic day,” Mr. Nadler said in a statement announcing his intention to attend U.S. v. Windsor‘s opening arguments tomorrow. “Our constitutional commitment to equal protection of the law requires more; that we treat all married couples with the same regard and respect. DOMA fails this simple test, and I am hopeful that the Court will strike down this shameful law and send it into the dustbin of history where it belongs.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 2/12 11:46pm

Strategery

US-POLITICS-OBAMA-STATE OF THE UNION

In State of the Union, Obama Makes Controversial Issues All About the Benjamins

In his State of the Union address this evening, President Barack Obama addressed several hot-button political issues including climate change, immigration reform and gun control. Overall, the president’s speech struck a populist tone, but when bringing up his proposals to address some of these more controversial issues, he characterized them as making good business sense. Read More

By Colin Campbell 12/12/12 9:36am

judgements

(photo msnbc.msn.com)

Christine Quinn to Antonin Scalia: ‘Don’t Compare Me to a Murderer Because I’m a Lesbian’

While selling his book at Princeton University earlier this week, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia defended moral opposition to gay marriage by asking, “If we cannot have moral feelings against homosexuality, can we have it against murder?” According to the Associated Press, Mr. Scalia said he wasn’t equating murder and homosexuality but rather making a logical argument entitled “reduction to the absurd,” but Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an openly gay candidate for mayor next year, wasn’t remotely satisfied with his explanation.

“It’s offensive!” Ms. Quinn exclaimed on Hardball yesterday evening. “Sexual orientation is who we are as people, it’s how we’re created if we’re the LGBT [community]. To compare that–even in a way you want to say was some philosophical exercise–to a heinous, horrible crime of murder? It’s just wrong. He can say it’s a slip of the tongue and that’s fine and we all of them; God knows I have. Just apologize. But don’t compare me to a murderer because I’m a lesbian. Just don’t do it. It’s wrong.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 11/05/12 2:35pm

Strongly Worded Letters

Rabbi Leiter. (Photo: VosIznNeias.com)

Governor Cuomo Reprimands Rabbi Who Suggested Gay Marriage Caused Hurricane Sandy

A few days ago, Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency said Hurricane Sandy brought a “divine justice” upon New York State as retribution for legalizing same sex marriage. To prove his point Rabbi Leiter pointed to the storm damage in Lower Manhattan, which he referred to as “one of the national centers for homosexuality,” to make his point. In a statement released this afternoon, Governor Andrew Cuomo, who led the push for New York’s gay marriage legislation last year, took issue with the remark.

“The comments made by Rabbi Noson Leiter that sought to link the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy to our state’s embrace of marriage equality are as offensive as they are ignorant,” Mr. Cuomo said. “This catastrophic storm claimed the lives of more than forty New Yorkers. This kind of hateful rhetoric has no place in our public discourse, and is particularly distasteful in times of tragedy.” Read More

By Colin Campbell 1:05pm

What You Should Know

ruben diaz sr gov

Rubén Díaz Wishes Governor Cuomo Would Be Mocked ‘in Tweets’

Democratic State Senator Rubén Díaz Sr., known for his opposition to gay marriage and his outspoken “What You Should Know” press releases, sent out another one of his inimitable missives earlier this afternoon. It’s quite a doozy. In the statement, Mr. Díaz touched on all of his favorite topics; attacking Governor Andrew Cuomo, brandishing his socially conservative beliefs and advocating for increased minority representation in New York politics. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/18/12 1:03pm

doma in a coma

(Photo: Wikimedia)

New York Pols Cheer Court Decision Striking Down DOMA Provision

This afternoon, a New York federal appeals court struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act, commonly known as DOMA, which excluded federal benefits from same-sex couples in states recognizing such marriages. And Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Council Speaker Christine Quinn, both loud advocates in favor of gay marriage, blasted out a rare joint statement approving the legal decision.

“Today’s decision affirms that DOMA deprives same sex couples of equal protection under the law,” Mr. Bloomberg said. Read More

By Colin Campbell 10/08/12 12:20pm

parade politicking

Governor Cuomo endorsing Joe Addabbo before a crowd of parade-goers

Cuomo Celebrates Columbus Day With an Endorsement

Governor Andrew Cuomo has had an infamously frosty relationship with the New York State Senate Democratic Caucus, but things may be starting to turn around a tad.

Almost exactly a month ago, Mr. Cuomo issued a small string of endorsements to three incumbent Senate Democrats, but all of them were in heavily Democratic districts where the outcomes would not affect the overall partisan makeup of the legislative body. This morning, however, Mr. Cuomo went in a different direction and endorsed an endangered incumbent, Senator Joe Addabbo, before a crowd of Columbus Day parade-goers on 5th Avenue. Read More