SoulForce Protests State Senator Diaz

Gay rights activists from the New York chapter of [SoulForce] stopped by the Bronx office of State Senator Rev. Ruben Diaz today to demand a meeting with him on passing legislation in the State Senate to legalize same-sex marriage in New York State (the Assembly has [already passed a bill](http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=18530353&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=8) calling for it).

Rev. Diaz is perhaps the strongest Democratic opponent of same-sex marriage in the State, and SoulForce organizer Matthew Nelson said his group was hoping to meet with the state senator to change his mind on the issue. But Rev. Diaz denied a request for a meeting, stating that his mind is already made up on the issue and no meeting would ever change that.

So without a meeting SoulForce decided instead to take their fight to the streets, handing out literature to passers-by, reading from the Bible and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, in particular emphasizing the "and justice for all" closing line. The group also sent two bouquets of flowers to Rev. Diaz's office, with one of the cards reading "please let this [sic] roses remind you of the flower my daughter will never walk down the aisle holding."

A Rev. Diaz staffer said the flowers were "very nice," but that police had to be called after they said a SoulForce protester blocked the office door and prevented a constituent from entering the office in a speedy manner. No other incidents were reported, and police gave the protesters the go ahead to continue handing out the literature, so long as the sidewalk remained clear for pedestrians (pictured above).

Nelson said SoulForce would be back, and Rev. Diaz is actually expecting them tomorrow when he returns from Albany. Will he meet with them? No, he said. In fact Rev. Diaz said he was so angry that they blocked his office that his opposition to same-sex marriage has only gotten stronger.

"They're gonna change my mind like that?" asked Rev. Diaz. "What they have done today just reinforced my position."

More photos after the jump.