Erica Díaz, the lesbian granddaughter of New York state senator Ruben Díaz Sr., has spoken for the first time about the personal pain caused by her grandfather, “Albany's most outspoken marriage equality opponent.”
Díaz, 22, spoke about her feelings to the New York Post. She described an inability to stay silent as her grandfather, a Bronx Democrat, amplified his attacks against the marriage equality bill that could see a vote in the Republican-controlled senate in the next two weeks.
“When I was younger, marriage equality was not an issue for me,” said Erica, who was discharged from the Navy under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. “But now, as my grandfather ceaselessly and callously comments on the issue, each and every word stings, since I live with my girlfriend of 2½ years, Naomi Torres, and our two sons, Jared and Jeremiah Munoz.”
Last month Erica attended a rally against marriage equality hosted by her grandfather, in order to force him to face her. The senator introduced his granddaughter and told the crowd of some 2,500 people, including National Organization for Marriage president Brian Brown, that he loved her.
However, Erica said to the Post, “You cannot tell someone that you love them and stay silent when people call for their death. ‘Love’ is empty when you say someone's life isn't natural.”
“He could quietly vote ‘no’ if that's what he believes is right,” she continued. “But I want him to know that every word he utters hurts his own blood.”
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