NY State Senator and Reverend Rubén DÃaz, in a press release posted on his website Saturday, threatened judges who were willing to marry same-sex couples on Sunday — the first day New York’s marriage equality law was effective — by claiming they were taking part in what he claims is a “pay to play” culture in the state government and warning them that ignoring the state 24-hour waiting period for marriages to be performed after licenses are issued is a “crime.”
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Stating, “let’s be sure that no crimes will be committed in regard to the 24-hour waiting period that is required before a marriages can be performed in New York,” Diaz — the only Democrat to vote against the marriage equality law —  adds, “it’s a crime to solemnize a marriage in violation of that section,” referring to the section of state law regulating marriage. The crime is a misdemeanor carrying a $50 fine and a forfeiture of their license to perform marriages for 90-days.
New York law does require a 24-hour waiting period between the time a marriage license is issued and the time a couple may be married, but, according to the New York State marriage bureau, “the 24-hour waiting period may be waived by an order of a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the County Court of the county in which either of the applicants resides,” if they determine criteria are met, including, “by reason of other emergency public interest will be promoted thereby.” The law applies to “the clergyman or magistrate performing the marriage ceremony,” but Diaz, who wears his anti-equality vote as a badge of honor, does not mention clergy in his threatening notice, and only focuses his ire on those performing same-sex marriages. Many opposite-sex marriages were performed Sunday as well. In total, almost 500 marriages were performed in New York City alone, with even more licenses issued.
New York State Senator and Reverend Rubén DÃaz, who himself is an evangelical and pentecostal ordained minister of the Church of God, is extremely anti-gay, and partnered with the anti-gay religion-based National Organization for Marriage (NOM) to hold hate rallies before the same-sex marriage law passed, which included a pastor who called for the genocide of gays. On Sunday, the first day the marriage equality law was effective, Diaz and NOM held four hate rallies throughout the state, bussing in protesters.
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Diaz also attacks New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for opening the New York City marriage bureau on Sunday, ignoring the fact that other jurisdictions throughout the state opened their marriage bureaus as well. Diaz’s attack on the judges would technically include Mayor Bloomberg, who performed a marriage on Sunday as well.
In a curious statement, Diaz’s press release suggests an “eager journalist” might want to inspect the marriage records, a similar phrase to one NOM’s Maggie Gallagher once used, referring possibly to this journalist: “enterprising reporter.” Who does write New York State Senator and Reverend Rubén DÃaz’s press releases?
(Image: Diaz speaking at NOM’s anti-gay hate rally in May when the call for genocide of gays was made.)
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