➤ RITCHIE TORRES, from p.10
Rodriguez is a newcomer to the
race and grabbed just three donations
from the borough, but managed
to collect $53,160 in total,
outraising Diaz.
There could be hidden Bronx
donations since candidates listed
“unitemized individual contributions,”
which represent donations
of less than $200. Diaz’s unitemized
contributions totaled $11,044
compared to $41,782 for Blake,
$19,268 for Mark-Viverito, and
➤ FERNANDO CABRERA, from p.10
original clip was deleted, but it was
copied and reposted on YouTube .
“Even when the United States of
America has put pressure, has told
Uganda, ‘We are not going to fund
you anymore unless you allow gay
marriage,’ they have stood in their
place,” Cabrera said in that video.
“Why? Because the Christians have
assumed the place of decision-making
for the nation.”
Cabrera has also fi lmed videos for
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF),
$1,660 for Rodriguez. Torres listed
no such contributions.
Torres received $2,800 contributions
from Frank Carone, a
counsel to the Brooklyn Democratic
Party, and billionaire real
estate and supermarket mogul
John Catsimatidis, among others.
Blake, who has the backing of the
Congressional Black Caucus and
earned a $5,000 donation from the
caucus’ PAC, has pulled in $2,800
from donors including Lu-Shawn
Thompson, the widow of the late
Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth
an anti-LGBTQ legal group that has
led the charge on a wide range of legal
battles challenging queer rights.
ADF fi led a lawsuit targeting the
constitutionality of New York City’s
ban on conversion therapy, leading
the Council to repeal it in September
. The state enacted such a ban
earlier this year.
The third term councilmember
lost two State Senate Races — in
2014 and 2016 — when he ran in
the Democratic primary for the seat
currently occupied by Gustavo Rivera.
Now, as he sets his sights on
Thompson, and hedge fund
executive Jeffrey A Weber.
Mark-Viverito has vowed not to
take corporate or real estate money
, but welcomed cash from Deborah
Garcia-Gratacos, president of
real estate advisory fi rm Deval.
Vanessa Nadal, married to “Hamilton”
creator Lin-Manuel Miranda,
also contributed.
Diaz, a Pentecostal minister
who rocked city politics earlier this
year with homophobic comments
about gay control of the City Council
, has raked in cash from several
Capitol Hill, local political fi gures
aren’t fooled by his apparent attempts
to erase his record.
“A turkey can’t declare itself a
peacock and expect anyone to believe
it,” said Rod Townsend, who
is the president of Stonewall Democratic
Club of New York City, a citywide
LGBTQ political club.
Towensend also took aim at Cabrera’s
claims that the Congressional
district needs a representative
“that’s going to be present” by
defending Ocasio-Cortez’s visbility
in the community and conveying
religious leaders and has received
funds from real estate developers
like David S. Mack.
Torres has warned that Diaz’s
candidacy “is an urgent recognition
that we as a community cannot afford
to have the most anti-choice,
anti-LGBT Democrat represent the
most Democratic district.”
“I need the support of the LGBT
community,” Torres told Gay City
News in July. “I need a real mobilization
of the LGBT community to
overcome the entrenched power of
Ruben Diaz. Sr., in the Bronx.”
stark differences between the two
candidates.
“We endorsed AOC in the general
election in 2018 and have seen her
at Pride and other LGBTQ events
throughout her district,” Townsend
said. “She’s been outspoken in her
support from broad legislation like
the Equality Act to more specifi c
issues facing the trans community
and LGBTQ immigrants.”
He continued, “On the other hand,
we’ve denounced and condemned
Cabrera for his homophobic views
and actions over the years.”
No one should go hungry when
they’re living with severe illness.
Especially during the holidays.
YOUR DONATION CAN FUND
A HOLIDAY MEAL FOR A
SERIOUSLY ILL NEIGHBOR
AND THEIR LOVED ONE.
GayCityNews.com | October 24 - November 6, 2019 11
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