|
|
Jerry Sanders on Civil Rights |
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is still refusing to sign onto the pledge, despite a petition with 253 signatures and promises of protests at his upcoming public events.
The group has also added two new co-chairs, San Diego's Jerry Sanders and Boston's Thomas Menino; with New York's Michael
Bloomberg, L.A.'s Antonio Villaraigosa and Houston's own Annise Parker. The five-co-chairs issued the following statement: My thinking on this important issue has evolved significantly in the past few
years. Not long ago, I believed that civil unions were an acceptable alternative for same-sex couples. Like many people, I mistakenly thought there was no difference between a civil union and a marriage. My eyes were opened in 2007, when I had to
decide whether to support a ban on same-sex marriage in my capacity as mayor of San Diego. I realized that my position was inconsistent with one of my core principles: that every community deserves to be treated with equal dignity and respect.
Running for mayor in 2005, I did
not believe that marriage equality was an issue for city governments to address. When I was asked, I said I supported civil unions, believing they were an acceptable compromise on a divisive issue. In 2007, the City Council challenged California's ban
on same-sex marriage. I had 10 days to decide whether to sign or veto the resolution. I was advised that signing the resolution could end my political career, because I would be reversing a position I took as a candidate. [Listening to both sides],
I realized that all opposition to same-sex marriage, including my own opposition, was grounded in prejudice. I knew my position was wrong, and that marriage equality was an issue I needed to address as mayor. And I knew I would sign the resolution.
Sanders became a supporter of same-sex marriage in September 2007. Sanders testified for the challengers at the federal Prop 8 trial in San Francisco.
In striking down Prop 8 on Aug. 4, Judge Walker said it violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law.
I was proud to testify this week in what I believe will soon be seen as one of the defining civil rights cases of our time, Perry v. Schwarzenegger. I did so as a Republican mayor, a father, and a former police chief with over 26 years of experience on
the force. But I also testified as an American who has seen the effects of discrimination--and who believes that discrimination against anyone, anywhere, is unacceptable.
Not long ago, I believed that civil unions were an acceptable alternative for same-sex couples. The irony is that I held this mistaken view about marriage equality even though my oldest daughter, Lisa, is a lesbian.
Other big-city mayors on Civil Rights:
Jerry Sanders on other issues:
Tom Barrett (D,Milwaukee)
Bill de Blasio (D,NYC)
Rahm Emanuel (D,Chicago)
Bob Filner (D,San Diego)
Steven Fulop (D,Jersey City)
Eric Garcetti (D,Los Angeles)
Mike Rawlings (D,Dallas)
Marty Walsh (D,Boston)
Former Mayors:
Rocky Anderson (I,Salt Lake City)
Tom Barrett (D,Milwaukee,WI)
Mike Bloomberg (I,New York City)
Cory Booker (D,Newark,NJ)
Jerry Brown (D,Oakland,CA)
Julian Castro (D,San Antonio,TX)
Rudy Giuliani (R,New York City)
Phil Gordon (D,Phoenix)
Tom Menino (D,Boston)
Dennis Kucinch (D,Cleveland,OH)
Michael Nutter (D,Philadelphia)
Sarah Palin (R,Wasilla,AK)
Annise Parker (D,Houston)
Jerry Sanders (R,San Diego)
Antonio Villaraigosa (D,Los Angeles)
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Infrastructure/Technology
Jobs
Principles/Values
Social Security
Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
Welfare/Poverty
Page last updated: Mar 25, 2021