NEW YORK: Anti-Gay NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera Loses State Senate Bid

New York City Councilman Fernando Cabrera, who last week earned widespread condemnation for praising Uganda's brutally anti-gay regime, yesterday lost his Democratic primary bid for the state Senate. Retaining his seat is Sen. Gustavo Rivera, who took 60% of the vote. Gay City News recaps Cabrera's downfall:

At a time when that government was trying to enact a harshly anti-gay law –– sidetracked at least for the moment by a court ruling –– that includes jail time even for those who fail to report knowledge of homosexual conduct, Cabrera decried the rise of “cultural shifters going after our young.” Those “cultural shifters” –– which he compared to Communists, the Nazi regime, and the North Korean government –– were influential enough in the US, he asserted contrary to fact, that the American government is trying to punish Uganda for not allowing gay marriage. “We are in the middle of a war,” Cabrera declared from Uganda. “A war for our children.” Always known for harshly conservative views on social issues –– he was active in the movement to block marriage equality in New York, has ties to the extremist Family Research Council, and is anti-choice –– Cabrera nonetheless sparked fresh outrage when the Uganda video emerged. The Empire State Pride Agenda, LGBT Democratic clubs, and the six gay and lesbian members of the Council urged his prominent supporters –– unsuccessfully in the case of Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel and Public Advocate Letitia James –– to withdraw their endorsements.

Cabrera will remain a New York City Councilman.

New York City Councilman Fernando Cabrera Praises Uganda's Anti-Gay Laws

Andres Duque writes at YouTube:

In a 30 minute video posted on January of 2014 New York City pastor and Councilmember Fernando Cabrera addressed viewers from Uganda and praised their draconian anti-gay laws for lowering HIV transmission. He also said the United States should have an "department of ethics" such as the one that launched the extreme attacks against the Ugandan LGBT community.

RELATED: Cabrera represents the Bronx and is running for the New York state Senate. The Gotham Gazette wrote about him last month:

City Council Member Fernando Cabrera's run for the state Senate in the Bronx's 33rd district, a seat currently held by Sen. Gustavo Rivera, is becoming more complicated by the minute. Cabrera, a Democrat challenging Rivera in September's primary, has expressed interest in joining the Independent Democratic Conference if elected and appears to have its members' support. However, IDC leader Sen. Jeff Klein, also of the Bronx, recently said that he would have a "litmus test" for any candidate the IDC might support. Based on his conservative stances on reproductive rights and marriage equality, Cabrera appears likely to fail such a test.

Cabrera is a conservative Democrat and pastor at New Life Outreach International. He has ties to the Family Research Council, which was recently labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for insisting that gays and lesbians should be imprisoned. According to records from Westchester County and the New York City Board of Elections, Cabrera switched his registration from Republican to Democrat when he moved to the Bronx in 2007, yet continued to vote in the 2008 Republican presidential primary. Cabrera enjoys support from Sen. Ruben Diaz and from the conservative Democratic base in the Bronx that backs both legislators.

The primary is Tuesday.

Anti-Gay NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera Investigated For Corruption

In the photo above you'll see NYC Councilman Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), who is besties with virulently anti-gay state Sen. Ruben Diaz, attending a June 2011 anti-gay marriage rally at City Hall where the red-caped Catholic loons marched in support. Cabrera has bigger things than homo marriage to worry about these days. Via New York Times:

Bronx residents stand to benefit from new jobs, education programs and even free skating under an ambitious plan to redevelop the Kingsbridge Armory into a nine-rink ice center. But now a Bronx councilman is facing questions about whether he sought to benefit from the ice center, too. Councilman Fernando Cabrera has come under scrutiny in the past week after revelations that he demanded that the developer of the ice center, KNIC Partners, pay $100,000 a year for 99 years to a little-known organization, Community Action Unlimited. The organization, which lost its federal tax-exempt status in 2010, has been associated with Mr. Cabrera and his church, New Life Outreach International. Mr. Cabrera’s demand was first reported by The Norwood News. Mr. Cabrera also asked city officials to turn over the former Fordham Library Center to Community Action Unlimited, according to people familiar with the matter.

Lots more juicy details are at the link. (Tipped by JMG reader Duncan)