The Daily Background
| Video- Tearful Republican reverses his stance against gay marriage
by Arlen Parsa
(Partial transcript below.)
San Diego’s Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders revealed his plan to support a city measure guaranteeing equality to gays. San Diego’s Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders revealed his plan to support a city measure guaranteeing equality to gays and lesbians, after previously opposing it.
Through teary-eyes, Sanders revealed his stance on gay marriage had changed after considering that anything less than full marriage equality would be demeaning to his own daughter, who is a lesbian. The LA Times reports:
Sanders, tears welling and voice breaking, said he realized that he could not tell his daughter Lisa, who is gay, that her relationship with a partner is not as important as that of a straight couple.
“I’ve decided to lead with my heart. . . to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice,” he said haltingly.
[…]
In 2000, 62% of San Diego voters endorsed a statewide measure to restrict marriage to a union between a man and woman.The council voted 5-3 on Tuesday to back a lawsuit pending before the California Supreme Court attempting to overturn the gay marriage ban.
I’d encourage everybody to join me in thanking Mayor Sanders for his courage by sending a nice email to jerrysanders@sandiego.gov. You know there will be tons of bigots emailing him too, so every word of encouragement counts for a lot. This was obviously something that was very hard for him to do, so our words will be very appreciated.
Partial transcript:
I intended to veto the council resolution. As late as yesterday afternoon, that was my position. The arrival of the resolution, to sign or veto, in my office late last night… [chokes up] Please excuse this… Forced me to reflect and search my soul for the right thing to do.
I’ve decided to lead with my heart, (which is probably obvious at the moment), to do what I think is right, and to take a stand on behalf of equality and social justice. The right thing for me to do is to sign this resolution.
For three decades, I’ve worked to bring enlightenment, equality, and justice to all parts of our community. As I reflected on the choices I had before me last night, I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of people in our community they were less important, less worthy, or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage than anyone else, simply because of their sexual orientation.
Finally a true American with it’s heart in the right place, it is not for others to control and influence someone’s love ones, no matter what religion, background or race, or preferences.
May you be rewarded with a long and happy life in good health!
Thanks for not going with the poliical flow and believing in the true values of democracy, respect and inclusion!
Robert
BRAVO! That took strength and courage in this political climate. It is time we all took a stand. Sadly, I see most if not many Americans who accept the status quo and do nothing about so many important issues such as this. Going about their lives with no concern for others. Let’s see San Diegans putting their city on the map in California and the country and stand behind Mayor Sanders.
I along with so many people in my community now applaude you so greatly, for this life changing desition. I myself thank you from the bottom of my heart.
[…] The Daily Background » Video- Tearful Republican reverses his stance against gay marriage jerrysanders@sandiego.gov […]
Finally he admits he like it up the ass and is not capable of teaching his own daughter any values.
Hi. I think he’s being selfish for backing a measure that most of the city aproved. Gays and lebs are people too, dont get me wrong. but when people aprove something and the politicians try to overturn the peoples will, i just dont like that. surely he will not be reelected to anything.
i meant, now he decides to back the measure because of his own daughter, but when you are elected to do a job, you do for the majority, not because of your imediate family. he flip floped. i like it up the ass myself, but i dont want same sex marriage to be legalized because it will bring destruction and imorality.
i’m bi and libertarian NOT liberal nor conservative, as you can see from my posts.
bitch. ass today, pussy tomorrow, dick the next day, it’s all good.
Yeah, well the damage is done anyways, so I’ll be happy the day he fixes and restores all the people he help to cripple.
I was so touched by this. I am christian and was told that my faith required me to stand against gay marriage and gay rights. However after doing some soul searching I realized that my beliefs shouldn’t dictate the happiness of others. I can’t see telling someone they cannot have the same right I do, despite them not having the same beliefs as me. I only wish happiness for the people of this country. This video had me in tears, because I think it’s beautiful seeing someone learning to take the population’s considerations to his heart, instead of leading with his own personal beliefs. I don’t understand how telling a person who is already gay, that they can’t marry, because somehow that will be different than them being gay their entire life and not being married? I don’t get it.
Yes! Thank you! That was so brave! I can’t stop exclaiming tht was so incredible! My favorite part where he says something to the effect of “I cannot tell an entire group of people that they are any less than anyone else.” That is so amazing. I just wish everyone felt that way….
It doesn’t effect them. Why should they care. Its not a disease. you can’t catch it.
P.S. iCrack, thats not at all the point of this video. He wasn’t saying he was going to turn it down. He was saying he was approving it. He kept saying that during his campaign that he had every intention of vetoing the bill aand letting us gays and “lebs” have our fucking civil unions.
He’s backing the measure, because he knows that constitutionally it’s the right thing to do. That the majority of people do not advocate, or are even opposed to, gay rights is irrelevant, because the majority is ever-changing. For this reason the bill of rights was made with the intention of protecting the rights of the minority.
Gay marriage is important not only on a state level but a federal level, because it would give all Americans the same rights (including those of marriage to foreign nationals, taxes, and most of all human dignity.)
We are one country of Americans - and the rights of one American should be equal across the whole country, not just based on one state or another.