Hiram Monserrate, who was expelled from the state Senate about four weeks ago, wants back in. He's running as a candidate in the special election design to replace him, and unsurprisingly, he's relying on low blows, including inciting homophobia among voters in order to bash his opponent, Jose Peralta.

Peralta, who is no stranger to scandal - he secured $500,000 in state grants for a non-existent organization in his district - is a gay rights supporter who voted for marriage equality while a member of the state Assembly. Monserrate supporters are now distributing flyers at churches denouncing Peralta's support of marriage equality.

The flyer casts Monserrate's opponent, Assemblyman Jose Peralta, as the "leading spokesperson for the gay community in NYC" and the tool of "mega rich gay fanatics" who are pushing for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

It also claims he was "affectionately called Peralta the gay caballero" at a recent LGBT fundraiser. (Caballero means "knight", "cavalier" or "horseman", according to Merriam Webster). This was also the title of a movie released in 1940, apparently, and could be construed as a slur.