(courtesy of NBC New York)
Over the weekend, gay rights activists marched in front of State Senator Carl Kruger’s Mill Basin home, enraged at the senator’s recent vote against marriage equality in New York State. According to NBC New York, activists called Kruger a “bigot”, and are planning more protests in the coming weeks.
Kruger has defended his vote as a reflection of his constituents’ wishes, not of his own beliefs. He said he considers the Orthodox Jewish community a “bedrock” part of his district. He added, “When it becomes an emotional, gut-wrenching issue, when it cuts through the fabric of traditions and values, then I have my community as the cornerstone of my decision.” (Others say Kruger’s vote was the result of a “chit cashed” by fellow “Amigo” Ruben Diaz.)
What do you think? Should a senator put his constituents’ wishes before his own moral beliefs? Always/Never? And is the Orthodox Jewish community reflective of the the entire district, which includes Bergen Beach, Flatlands, Mill Basin, Sheepshead Bay, and Midwood.
Meanwhile, in other Kruger news, the good senator continues to get slammed for his budget shenangigans and role in the MTA deficit (here and here).
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I suppose it’s the rule of practical politics. Few people vote here, and those who do tend to vote more conservative. But the reality beyond that is that Gay rights is a non-issue to a lot of people.
A lot of the important steps in protecting the rights of the LGBT community has been accomplished. This should be an allowance too, but it is not an imperative. Hopefully it will become a reality in time. Waiting is difficult, but if it is done with the idea of making as many people as possible comfortable with it the time will be spent in a worthwhile fashion.
What does concern me is how the Orthodox community might be emboldened into effecting more changes in our community. Some years back a 7-11 wished to open on Avenue P near Ocean Parkway. The Orthodox community pushed the community board into non-approval, on the grounds that the store would be open on Saturdays and sell “inappropriate periodicals there. (I can’t find a citation for this) I worry about other shopping streets being affected in this manner.
As we have sen from the last election here change is difficult to effect here. The local officials are entrenched here, they capitulate to the local power structure, which more often than not is more representative of their interests rather than that of the community. The only cure would be a registration drive that would convince locals that they do have the power to null the status quo.
standing in front of the guys house is crazy. you want to protest do it at his office or go to city hall or something.
That’s how they always do it. They think they’ll embarrass him in front of his neighbors.
Notice it was a small group. They weren’t looking to make a big scene, just get the point across.
in texas they all would have been shot for standing in front of a property like that. they say hes gay and they are making fun of it. how does that make any sense. gays abusing other gays. they should support him if they think hes gay.
It’s a shaming tactic. I find it quite distasteful. They have no clue whatsoever as to his sexuality. It cuts off dialogue but serves the purpose of uniting the GLBT community against this “traitor”. Keeps the contributions coming in for the cause.
Activity like this gives activism a bad name. It also has the effect of alienating some who might become their allies. This group managed to get some airtime. But they did so while giving the impression that if they don’t get their way they will act unreasonably.
Such an strategy puts the GBLT movement back 40 years. Back to the days when outing was a common form of blackmail.