The Hudson Valley Chronic

Supporters erupt in victory Friday as the Marriage Equality bill passes the New York State Senate. (Photo by Paul Joffe)

Last fall when I loudly endorsed State Sen. Steve Saland’s opponent, Didi Barrett, and subsequently publicized my failure to vote for him in his landslide victory, I had no idea that he was a changed man. I had no idea that he was going to have a soul transplant a few months later and use what may be his last term in office to buck the rising tide of knee-jerk conservativism. I was wrong. Yesterday Sen. Saland loudly, courageously and eloquently responded to his inner Steve-ness and, as one of two Republicans crossing great divide (the other being Sen. Mark Grisanti of Buffalo), voted with the Democratic minority in passing New York State’s game-changing Marriage Equality Bill. The turncoat (two years ago he voted against a similar bill) then assured the everlasting enmity of his more socially ossified supporters by delivering one of the most satisfyingly emotional speeches ever to grace the state Senate. “My intellectual and emotional journey has ended here today, and I have to find doing the right thing as treating all persons with equality, and that equality includes within the definition of marriage,” said Saland, inciting a flood of tears from the supporting galleries and ensuring himself national media coverage as the hero/villain of the day, depending on the market. “And I fear that to do otherwise would fly in the face of my upbringing.” In this particular market, Steve, you’re a hero, perhaps even a saint. Sorry to have doubted you. While you’re on a roll, how about helping deal a death blow to chemically-dependent hydrofracking? By the way, I know a really great, historic and beautiful church in downtown Kingston, which stands ready with open doors to perform same-sex marriages. Here’s more from the historic goings-on from our on-the-spot video journalist, Paul Joffe: