After Being ‘Outed’ Kruger Changes Tune On Same-Sex Marriage
The last time same-sex marriage was up for a vote in the New York State Senate, Carl Kruger didn’t just vote against it.
In 2008, Senator Kruger, along with Hiram Monserrate, Pedro Espada and Ruben Diaz, Sr., threatened to change parties if a vote on gay marriage happened. The following year, the four politicians attempted to stage a coup against the Democratic party leadership in Albany.
For the group of four, the two years since then have held more than their share of embarrassing moments.
From Salon.com:
Hiram Monserrate, a corrupt former cop who slashed his girlfriend’s face with a broken glass; Pedro Espada, who famously didn’t live in the Bronx district he represented and whose healthcare nonprofit was used to employ Espada’s family and purchase $20,000 worth of sushi, delivered to his home (Espada actually voted yes on gay marriage after doing everything in his power to cause it to fail); Ruben Diaz, Sr., a virulently anti-gay pol whose own family (including his lesbian granddaughter) is regularly appalled by his hatred; and Carl Kruger, who, by the standards of these assholes, is a pretty run-of-the-mill corrupt anti-gay Albany pol, except that he had a long-term secret gay partner.
Scandal and the will of the people have driven Espada and Monserrate from office, while Kruger has had legal troubles of his own.
The question remains as to whether Kruger’s change to a ‘Yes’ vote on Monday has anything to do with the New York Post and New York Times both outing him as being gay. Ultimately, whether the Senator, who’s currently under indictment for corruption, had a genuine change of heart (LOL) or was pressured into this decision, doesn’t really matter. To supporters of gay civil rights, a happy ending may justify the means.
Senator Kruger represents the 27th District, which includes Mill Basin, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach; as well as parts of Marine Park, Sheepshead Bay, Homecrest, Coney Island, Midwood, Gravesend and Bensonhurst.