On May 15, 2011, Díaz led a rally of same-sex marriage opponents in the Bronx. His granddaughter Erica Diaz, who is openly lesbian, led a counterprotest. During Díaz's speech, his granddaughter came up on the stage with him, and Díaz hugged and kissed her and said, "This is my granddaughter. I love her. I love her. I love her. I respect her decisions. She does what she wants." Erica subsequently stated that "You cannot tell someone that you love them and stay silent when people call for their death. 'Love' is empty when you say someone's life isn't natural." Díaz reported receiving numerous death threats, and a New York gay bar said it would hold a "Fuck Ruben Diaz" event.