Bronx News Network

A Tremont Tribune Editorial: Sen. Diaz's Misguided March

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Editor’s Note: This editorial first appeared in the most recent issue of the Tremont Tribune, out now. We’re experiencing some technical difficulties right now with the paper’s website, but we’re hoping to have them worked out soon.On Sunday, May 15, State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., who represents the 32nd District, will lead an organized march down the borough’s tree-lined Grand Concourse. That very same day, less than five miles south, thousands of other New Yorkers will also be walking, through Central Park—part of the city’s annual AIDS Walk New York.But Diaz and his allies won’t be marching to raise money to fight a life-threatening disease, or in the name of cultural celebration, or to protest a gross violation of civil rights—quite the opposite, in fact. The senator is rallying against the idea of legalizing same sex marriage in New York, an idea that’s set to be considered by the legislature in Albany this spring and has the strong support of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, not to mention a growing coalition of residents and gay-rights groups. In his actions, Diaz (not to be confused with his son, the borough president, who is a gary marriage supporter) is asserting that his personal religious beliefs are enough to justify denying an entire group of New Yorkers the multitude of benefits that come with legal marriage—the right to visit your partner in the hospital should they get sick, the right to access your spouse’s health insurance coverage, to name just a couple.“I have never preached hatred toward anyone, and I denounce those who do,” Diaz said in statement he sent out recently, defending his decision to host the anti-gay marriage parade.

Bronx News Network

Other Bronx Week Events This Weekend

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Lots going on this first weekend of Bronx Week(s). In Bronx Foodie, we mentioned the urban farm tour on Saturday and in the Roundup we discussed Sunday’s Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade (set for a 1 p.m. start time), as well as The Rev’s anti-gay marriage rally. But there’s more!Today, the Borough President will host a Veteran’s Appreciation Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Maestro’s restaurant (1703 Bronxdale Ave.). The guest speaker will be William Kraus, acting executive director at the New York State Division of Veteran’s Affairs. And on Sunday, at about the same time of the PR Day parade (always a huge draw), the BP is putting on a star-studded hip hop block party at the Bronx Museum (1040 Grand Concourse) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Here’s the long list of music acts expected to show up: Prodigy (Mobb Deep/G-Unit), Wu Tang, Lord Finesse, Large Professor, Neek The Exotic, Cuban Link, Grand Daddy IU, Grafh, Ma Barker, GrandWizard Theodore, Pebble Poo, Zulu Nation, Reggae Star Ravon, Wordsmith, Busy B, T-Ski Valley, D Chamberz, NYB, M.cia The Artist, Lynn Carter, Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams, and Chip Fu aka Jungle Rock Jr.(On a side note: The block party is being billed as a “family-friendly event featuring interactive activities to inspire creativity in youth through the power of music.”