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New York city councilman won't apologize for saying chamber is controlled by 'homosexual community'
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/429340-new-york-city-councilman-wont-apologize-for-saying-chamber-is-controlledBronx city council member Ruben Diaz Sr., described as a conservative Democrat, made the comment while speaking on the Spanish-language radio program, “El Desahogo," last week, according to The New York Daily News.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who is gay, and others called for Diaz to apologize over the comment.
“The disgraceful and homophobic comments made by Ruben Diaz Sr. don’t reflect this city’s values,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) tweeted on Saturday. “The council member owes an apology to @NYCSpeakerCoJo and 8.6 million New Yorkers.”
But Diaz has declined to do so, tweeting, "what’s homophobic about saying that the gay community controls the [New York City] city council?"
"I’m giving them credit for the power and influence they have," he added.
As a member of the New York state Senate, he was only Democrat to vote against the legislature's marriage equality bill in 2011.
