After Brian’s eloquent post praising the brave equality stands of a couple New York Republicans, I thought it was interesting to read a recent article from The Daily Star (Oneonta, NY).

It seems as though the county manager in Otsego County took steps to exclude legally wedded same-sex couples (recognized in New York) from the county’s insurance plan. Republican county commissioners spoke up.

Among them was County Board Chairman James Powers, who criticized the county manager’s change.

“I think it was done wrong and it is wrong, period,” Powers said. “Gay people get sick, too, and when they do, they need medical attention.”

The chairman also said, according to The Star, “that even if Thayne has the power to act independently from the board, ’she should have taken this to the Administration Committee, where we could have talked about it.””

County Board member Greg Relic chairs the county’s administration committee and told The Star he was surprised by the county manager’s decision.

“This didn’t come from our committee; we haven’t even discussed it,” he said. “I didn’t find out until it was e-mailed, and when I read it, I said, ‘Holy mackerel!”’

Can we import some liberal Republicanism to the Carolinas, ya’ll?

P.S. — I’ve created a new category, “Voices from the Right,” and will commit to showcasing the brave stands taken by Republicans on these important issues of equality and fairness for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation or gender-identity.