Visible Vote 08 » Tearful San Diego Mayor Announces He Supports Gay Marriage

Tearful San Diego Mayor Announces He Supports Gay Marriage

By: Jennifer Vanasco

More on: Gay Marriage, Mayor Jerry Sanders, San Diego

Saying he needed to “lead with his heart,” San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, a Republican, announced in an emotional press conference last night that he was going to sign a city council resolution expressing his support for gay marriage.

Previously Sanders had said he would veto it.

But his heart has changed—his lesbian daughter and members of his personal staff are much of the reason. The video is moving; watch it below:

Comments (16)

Posted: Sep. 20. 2007 at 3:05 PM EDT

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Comments

2005 FY9 says:

11:01 on 11/27

Its k00l that he is willing to favor his daughter over society's ideas. In other words, I give him much credit for standing up against the opinion of the general public (Reps especially), in favor of his family. GOOD GOING!!! :D
George Olds says:

9:32 on 09/24

Steve said:

"He did not rush into a burning building and risk his own life to save a child or anything remotely equivalent."

I disagree. The 'burning building' is the Republican Party's shameful stance on this issue and its vile anti-gay, UN-Constitutional treatment of GLBT American citizens.

And the 'child' he saved was his own daughter. Perhaps even yours.
Do unto others says:

9:29 on 09/24

I would be more (MUCH more) impressed if Sanders were to visit Ahnold and tell him to do likewise.

Then, he could visit the Cheneys and tell them to do likewise. (Dick Cheney's abandonment of his daughter to the vicissitudes of the Rethuglican party brings shame on the party and on himself.)

Then he could visit Larry Craig and tell him to get over himself.

Etc.
bill clar says:

5:37 on 09/24

It is refreshing to see a politician finally being honest with the community he represents, and to finally acknowledge that gay marriage is not a threat to anyone or anyone's values. Send a copy of this spech to the world's leaders, including that pope in Italy.
Annie says:

6:22 on 09/23

But, Jennifer doesn't say he's a hero in her post? she just says the video is moving?

I think she's right, that it is moving. You made good comments about if hes a hero, but she doesn't say that.
Steve says:

5:57 on 09/22

This was obviously extremely moving because of the internal torment that the mayor was obviously feeling. I deeply respect that and his courage in holding this press conference.

But I think we need to be clear on why he is a hero if, in fact, he is one. He did not rush into a burning building and risk his own life to save a child or anything remotely equivalent. He did what he thought was right. Is that such a rarity that we should treat it like an extraordinary human accomplishment?

Has he imperiled his political future by doing it? If so, ok, then this may be a profile in courage: standing up to a public that wants him to do what's wrong, jeopardizing his career for his daughter. But I don't know how much San Diegans care about the difference between marriage and civil unions. San Diego has repeatedly elected even openly gay politicians. I honestly don't know whether there's much political risk here.

But here's what I absolutely refuse to do: laud a politician for taking a pro-gay position merely because he is a Republican. Jennifer Vanasco, author of this little piece, is a well-known lesbian conservative. Her trumpeting of this guy as a hero has a little stench of Log Cabin Republican desperation to me. From a gay perspective, this guy should be judged by the exact same standards as a Democrat, a Green, or an Independent.

The most cynical view of this is that Vanasco would have us laud this guy because he has finally stopped mistreating his daughter or putting his career ahead of her welfare. After all, he's been bashing gay marriage for years apparently. It's wonderful that he's now seen the light and we should obviously welcome that. But put him on a pedestal as a hero? I don't know about that.

Assessing whether he's a hero is more complicated than Vanasco suggests.
Chris Jarvis says:

4:25 on 09/22

This man is a hero. The gay community has been waiting for something like this for a very long time. The kind of courage and integrity this man has shown is exactly the thing missing from American politics. If more people stood up for American principals as he has done we would be in a much stronger country right now.
Arturo888 says:

11:21 on 09/22

This should be required viewing for Governor Schwarzenegger and all the Presidential candidates. It was touching that he was so emotional, though I am curious as to why he was SO tearful. I suspect that taking the civil unions not marriage position must have been putting a strain on his relationship with his daughter for almost two years. Doing this was an act of great political courage for a conservative Republican and an intensely liberating act for a father. It was the father not the Mayor that was making this announcement, I think.
Vincent sabio says:

9:35 on 09/22

Better late than never....Thankyou LISA!
NINA OCHOA says:

7:29 on 09/21

thank you so much for this mr sanders it is a great relief to see the changes happening in the world. as a lesbian this is a turn around and im hoping that your actions will show others in the political world that while you may not agree with the decisions people make it is their own decision to make and you cant help who you love. i am engaged to be married to the love of my life but because of the laws we will not be considered married by law in illinois where we live im hoping someday soon the laws will change
Martin Cagle says:

7:19 on 09/21

When will Governor Arnold listen to his own heart???
scott alan says:

4:25 on 09/21

way to go jerry!!!! it's amazing that when you hear a politition tell the truth. thank you mr. sanders
don says:

2:07 on 09/21

When we search our hearts honestly I believe we all come to know what is just and right. How amazing to see a man whom chooses to follow through with the justice his heart has declared, despite certain repercussions from his political party and those whom blindly hate the GLBT community. I hope as many as possible will write the mayor's office and thank him for his insight to our love and relationships and commitment to our equality for our families. Let no one say again that a man's tears are a sign of weakness - I've rarely witnessed such courage.
brenda lynn says:

10:43 on 09/20

thank you. finally. :]
Gay is Not says:

10:25 on 09/20

Thank you for posting this. Its very encouraging to see a leader come forward about a change of mind. His personal conviction is to be applauded.

-Jeremy Love

"gay is not an insult."
myspace.com/gayisnot
from the uk says:

6:41 on 09/20

An honest politician - parent - human telling he was wrong - a very rare moving press conference.

Thank you