Even City Councilmember Ruben Diaz Sr.’s son is demanding an apology.
Recriminations are raining down on Diaz Sr. for his claim on Friday that the council is “controlled by the homosexual community.”
But Diaz, who goes by “Reverend” and who is also a Pentecostal minister, stood by his remarks, insisting Saturday night that he won’t apologize — and that it’s he who’s the victim.
“Apologize? No, for what?” he asked a Post reporter Saturday night. “I didn’t say anything wrong. I am speaking the truth and the victim here is me. I’m the one.”
Diaz, 75, had earned the ire of his council colleagues Friday by claiming on Spanish-language radio, that the “homosexual community” controls most of the 51 council members.
He also called Council Speaker Corey Johnson a “homosexual married to another man.”
Johnson is openly gay, but single.
The speaker’s spokesman soon issued a statement saying that Diaz’s comments “have no place in New York City” and demanding that the Bronx Democrat apologize to his colleagues and the LGBTQ community.
Instead, in a tweet Saturday, Diaz doubled down.
“What’s homophobic about saying that the gay community controls the nyc city council?” he tweeted.
“I’m giving them credit for the power and influence they have.”
Meanwhile, demands from other council members that Diaz apologize or resign started rolling in on social media.
His own kid, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., joined in the fray.
“NYC is a place where we celebrate our diversity and inclusivity,” Diaz Jr. tweeted Saturday.
“The LGBTQ community is unequivocally an essential voice in our City,” the son’s tweet continued.
“@revrubendiaz’s sentiments are antagonistic, quarrelsome and wholly unnecessary. He should apologize.”
Council members Carlos Menchaca and Mark D. Levine joined in demanding an apology, and gay Council member Jimmy Van Bramer demanded Diaz’s resignation.
“When I was a closeted gay kid I never saw out, proud & powerful Queer people,” he tweeted.
“Had I seen that it might have stopped my suicidal thoughts then. It’s partly why I ran. To see this hatred of us makes me livid. I don’t want an apology. I want him to resign.”
Councilman Robert Holden agreed, tweeting, “Jimmy, I’m with you!”
Beyond the council, Comptroller Scott Stringer tweeted that he wants Diaz stripped of his chairmanship of a new committee on for-hire vehicles.
“This is not the first time this has happened,” Stringer tweeted.
“Rev Diaz has a practice and pattern of bigoted hate speech that has gone on way too long.
“Let’s send a loud message he will understand: strip him of his chairmanship and show New Yorkers this won’t be tolerated.”
But Diaz pointed to his detractors — including his own son — as proving his point.
“I’m the one that is being harassed,” he claimed. “Seeing all those elected officials joining against me, asking for my resignation and my apology, that shows how powerful and feared the gay community is in New York.”
Additional reporting by Danielle Furfaro