Senator Ruben Diaz, the only Democrat in the New York State Senate to vote against the marriage equality bill, blamed the loss on fellow Christians who, he says, "pray too much and act too little," the Christian Post reports:
"Pastors and religious leaders are supposed to remember that we are supposed to be Christians before being Democrats or being Republicans. Our responsibility is with Jesus and not with Democratic Party or Republican Party."
He added that party affiliation is always secondary one's Christian faith in political decisions. Regardless of whether a political candidate is Republican or Democrat, Christians should support and vote for whomever shares their values.
"We should always think first as Christians," he said. "We should not be concerned if that person is Republican or Democrat. We should be concerned if that person has Christian values and go all the way for that person."
"We have to learn that because Jesus said that who is against us is not with us, that who is for us is with us. "
Diaz adds that he will wear his anti-gay vote with pride: "I made history. I'm the only New York State Democrat that voted against the bill. I will wear it as a badge of honor."