Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a candidate for the 15th Congressional District who’s been routinely chastised for making anti-gay remarks, surprisingly contributed a total of $11,000 to LGBTQ-supported groups, according to a review of the recently enacted Fiscal Year budget.

Diaz Sr., a self-proclaimed social conservative Democrat and pentecostal minister, doesn’t see this as a form of contrition.

“Why did I give money to these groups? Because they need it,” Diaz Sr. plainly told the Norwood News in a phone interview. 

Diaz Sr. has allocated $6,000 to Pride Not Prejudice, an organization that uses art to present current issues, such as HIV, STDs, addiction, and homophobia, to kids in middle and high school. He also gave $5,000 to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). Diaz Sr. also gave the same monetary amounts to both organizations in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget. GMHC did not return a request for comment. 

Rick Mueller, founder of Pride Not Prejudice, explained that the support from Diaz Sr. is necessary to help the community. “I’m not going to deny the money,” Mueller said. “He is giving me money to go around to schools in his district and help gay people.” 

In a recent campaign announcement video, Councilman Ritchie Torres, the first openly gay elected official in the Bronx and Diaz Sr.’s main adversary in the congressional primary, refers to Diaz Sr. as a “vicious homophobe.”

Diaz Sr. voted against same-sex marriage legislation in 2009 and 2011, which was eventually passed in the latter year. At the time, Diaz Sr. led a rally against same-sex marriage in June 2011, despite having an openly gay granddaughter.

“What does that [the 2011 rally] have to do with me helping the community and the people? I oppose gay marriage. I oppose abortion. I oppose smoking. I oppose gambling. What does that have to do with me helping the community?” Diaz Sr. asked the Norwood News. “You think because I oppose gay marriage I have to hate them?”

Diaz Sr.’s campaign announcement came out only weeks after he made statements declaring that the New York City Council is controlled by homosexuals.

“Nobody can tell me that I’m not helping people. I help people. Everyone. Gay, straight, whatever. I help people. Black, Hispanic. I help everyone. I create jobs for everyone,” Diaz Sr. asserted in a frustrated tone. “I do not exclude anyone.”