Ultra-Orthodox Man Spits On Lesbian Rabbi At Gay Marriage Protest

Yesterday, outside the New York state senate (which has yet to schedule a vote on a pending gay marriage bill), rabbi and gay rights activist Sharon Kleinbaum jostled with anti-gay marriage Hasids. It got pretty ugly.

As you can see from the video, Kleinbaum, clad in a prayer shawl, is trying to get out in front with a pro-equality sign just after the arrival of Ruben Diaz Sr., an anti-gay senator. Then she throws her arm around one of the men, who undoubtedly interprets Jewish law as forbidding physical contact between unrelated men and women. He spits on her and declares that she is not a Jew.

Video: Ruben, A Rabbi, A Rumble [Times Union]