Ruben Diaz Sr.

Here is a detailed and cited biography of Rubén Díaz Sr.:

Rubén Díaz Sr. — Life, Career, and Controversies

Explore the life and political career of Rubén Díaz Sr. (born 1943), New York politician, pastor, social conservative, and outspoken voice in state and city government.

Introduction

Rubén Díaz Sr. (born April 22, 1943) is a Puerto Rican–American politician, ordained Pentecostal minister, and long-serving public figure in New York.

Early Life & Education

• Rubén Díaz Sr. was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on April 22, 1943.

• In 1960, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving until receiving an honorable discharge in 1963.

• He relocated to New York City in 1965.

• In 1965, he pleaded guilty to charges of marijuana and heroin possession and was sentenced to probation.

• Díaz became an evangelical Christian in 1966.

• He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Lehman College in 1976.

• In 1978, he was ordained as a minister in the Church of God (Pentecostal).

Early Career & Community Work

• In 1977, Díaz founded a senior center and the nonprofit Christian Community Benevolent Association, Inc. in the Bronx.

• He has been pastor of the Christian Community Neighborhood Church in the Bronx.

• In 1993, Díaz was appointed to New York City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, serving for three years investigating police misconduct.

• During his service, he sometimes drew criticism for statements about the Gay Games, claiming that hosting them would foster AIDS and influence youth toward homosexuality.

Political Career

New York City Council

• Díaz was first elected to the New York City Council in 2001 (serving from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2003) representing the 18th District.

• After a break, he returned to the City Council in 2018, again representing District 18 (term ending 2021).

• His 2019 comments that the City Council was “controlled by the homosexual community” triggered backlash and the dissolution of a committee he chaired.

New York State Senate

• Díaz was elected to the New York State Senate for the 32nd District beginning January 1, 2003, and served until December 31, 2017.

• His Senate district encompassed large parts of the Bronx, including Castle Hill, Parkchester, Morrisania, Hunts Point, Melrose, Longwood, and Soundview.

• During his Senate tenure, Díaz wrote a column titled “What You Should Know” addressing social and political commentary.

• He was known as a socially conservative Democrat, frequently opposing abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and same-sex marriage.

• In May 2012, he compared abortion to the Holocaust—drawing criticism including from the Anti-Defamation League.

• He also led rallies against same-sex marriage, opposed the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), and voiced resistance to expanding LGBT rights.

Retirement & Later Life

• In July 2020, Díaz announced he would not seek re-election in 2021 and would retire from city politics.

• Among his contributions in office, he cited senior centers built, immigrant job programs via Christian Community Action, and affordable housing projects in the Bronx.

Personal Life & Family

• Rubén Díaz Sr. was married to Didionilda Díaz (Vega); they have three children.

• One of his children is Rubén Díaz Jr., who served as Borough President of the Bronx from 2009 to 2021.

• He later married Leslie Yvette Díaz.

• Díaz holds significant influence in religious and Hispanic clergy circles; he founded the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization.

Citation: All information here is based on the Wikipedia article “Rubén Díaz Sr.”