Op-Ed: The Bronx deserves a progressive leader in Congress
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BRONX TIMES R 12 EPORTER, MAY 22-28, 2020 BTR
BY JACQUELYN MARRERO
Living in the South Bronx during
one of the most uncertain times in
modern history, I am certain about one
thing – The Bronx deserves a leader in
Congress who will prioritize and protect
our access to vital health care.
That person is not Ruben Diaz Sr., who
is only committed to his anti-woman,
anti-healthcare and anti-LGBTQ
agenda.
For decades, Ruben Díaz Sr. has
pushed dangerous, extremist rhetoric
and policies that disqualify him to
represent New York’s 15th Congressional
District. Diaz Sr. showed just how
wicked he is when he compared women
who access safe, legal abortion to Hitler
during the Holocaust.
Let me be clear: abortion is health
care and health care is a fundamental
human right. Planned Parenthood has
been a high-quality, affordable health
care provider for people in the South
Bronx for more than 37 years. I am
one of those people. As a Bronxite, former
Planned Parenthood patient, and
now advocate for sexual and reproductive
health care, I have witnessed
fi rst-hand how Diaz Sr. has dehumanized
people in this borough. His outof
touch policies burden a community
that is already being challenged by systemic
biases, economic injustices, and
health inequities.
Diaz Sr. is not only misogynistic,
he is also homophobic. He peddles misinformation
and anti-LGBTQ stigma.
He does not believe Bronxites have the
right to love whomever they want. In
fact, Diaz Sr. was the lone Democratic
state senator to vote against New York’s
Marriage Equality Act. It’s not just that
Díaz Sr. is out of step with the values of
Bronxites, he doesn’t have our best interests
or well-being at heart.
Latinx voters — who make up the
majority of the 15th Congressional
district — overwhelmingly support
the right to access abortion. Latinx
millennials are more likely to identify
as LGBTQ than any other group and
New York City has the largest LGBTQ
population in the country with more
than 750,000 residents. As time has
passed, Díaz Sr. has never been more
disconnected from the priorities of
The Bronx.
On June 23rd, Bronx voters need to
elect a leader who will fi ght for equality
and their basic health care needs.
That leader is anybody but Díaz Sr.
Every other leading Democratic candidate
has demonstrated support for
protecting and expanding abortion access
and LGBTQ rights, and would be
far more qualifi ed to represent us in
Congress.
About the author: Jacquelyn Marrero
is the director of media relations
at Planned Parenthood of Greater New
York and PPGNY Action Fund. She
was raised in Mott Haven and currently
resides in Port Morris.
There is a concerted nationwide progressive effort to thwart Ruben Diaz, Sr.’s bid for Congress
ahead of the June 23 Democratic primary election.
Photo courtesy of the New York City Council/Emil Cohen
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