Press Release: Saudi Arabia Ray McGuire, Bad for Gays and Women. Bad for New York City

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Roskoff, President Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club 
aroskoff@mac.com, 917-553-7180

Citywide Gay Democratic Club and co-author of nation’s first Gay rights bill condemns Ray McGuire for his silence while business partners killed gays and women.

For fifteen years, NYC mayoral candidate Ray McGuire rose up the Citigroup corporate ladder becoming among other titles, chairman of banking, and capital markets. His deal making has included a highly financially rewarding relationship with a nation decried by human rights organizations as among the most oppressive, anti-human rights persecutor of Gays and women in the world.

One day in 2019 McGuire--then Citigroup Vice-Chairman--took public credit for a Citigroup lucrative Middle East financial deal involving a nearly $70 billion Saudi government sovereign fund dominant transaction.

McGuire and his bank made millions, said Allen Roskoff, president of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club and co-author of nation’s first Gay rights bill. But the day before McGuire patted himself on the back in financial news outlets, it was revealed that the Saudi government held a mass execution of 5 men whose only crime was to be gay.

“This is so horrid,” said Roskoff “that you’d think this was invented. But it happened. And all that McGuire did was take the cash.”

Of those convicted according to CNN, “one was crucified, and another was 16 upon arrest.” Stoning, beheading and crucifixion are all used to carry out death penalties.

Saudi Arabia, while a profit center for Ray McGuire is “a death trap for gay people.”

“Not a word from Saudi Arabia Ray McGuire,” said Roskoff, " He took the money and ran thinking no one would ever now that as he stuffed his pockets with cash, his partners were murdering gays for being gay."

“If you are gay in Saudi Arabia, you’re a criminal. And the Saudi government--McGuire’s business partners--will kill you. Where does McGuire get the nerve to think he can be our mayor? He can’t be serious. Money is more important to Saudi Arabia Ray McGuire than protecting gay lives. He can be Mayor of Riyadh, but not of New York.”

In Saudi Arabia, men and women are strictly segregated and women are judged to have “lack of capacity,” a concept used to subjugate women and to justify violence against them. Male permission is required for activities including but not limited to travel and medical procedures. It is only recently that women in Saudi Arabia have been permitted to drive.

Migrant women are held captive by Saudis. Rape, and human trafficking are reported to be common.

One internationally respected human rights organization reports that a record number of people were executed in 2019. Beheading, stoning and crucifixion are legal means of execution in Saudi Arabia. Torture of suspects to obtain confessions is common.

Women have been executed for suspicion of adultery, and even for sorcery.

“Saudi Arabia Ray McGuire stood by and watched as his partners murdered, abused and subjugated women. Now he thinks his go along get along and take the cash lack of conscience should be forgotten,” said

“Ray McGuire might be fooling himself, but he can’t fool us,” concluded .

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