No, that is not a typo, and it is not a late April Fool's joke.
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., the son of anti-Gay marriage New York State Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr., recently came out in support of Gay marriage. See details below the fold.
As reported in The Riverdale Press:
It’s not unusual or all that surprising when the leader of the most Democratic county in the state announces his support for gay marriage.
But when that person is the son of one of the loudest voices opposing same-sex marriage in New York, and when he’s one of the top Latino elected officials in the city and state, it carries a little more weight.
Ruben Diaz, Sr. may be the most progressive member of the New York State Senate on economic issues. But he is certainly the most conservative member of the Democratic caucus on social issues. He is anti-abortion and was the only Democrat to vote against same sex marriage. He attributes his position to his religious beliefs (he is a Pentacostal minister). As diaried
here, he spoke at the recent anti-Gay marriage protest of the National Organization of Marriage. (It should be noted for, that despite threats to bolt the Democratic Party, he has never done so even though his fellow Bronx Democratic State Senator -- from my own district -- Jeffrey Klein basically cut a deal to keep the Republicans in power; Diaz, Sr. remains a member of a powerless minority. But Diaz, Sr. has often hinted that other family members don't agree with his position on this issue and that was recently confirmed. As Ruben Diaz, Jr., said,
We’ve talked about this for many, many years, but it wasn’t about my dad. I didn’t get permission from him,” he said. “This is about me thinking about it, knowing, experiencing, feeling the love from same sex couples in my family, same sex couples who are close to me, who are friends who are confidants.
It takes a lot of courage to come out on the other side of the signature issue of your father and mentor. Diaz, Jr. has done a good job as Bronx Borough President and I'd love to see him to run for higher office some day -- and I hope that his father will support him.