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Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Locals to ask mayor to support same-sex marriage
by Brandon Darnell, published on February 13, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Storyline: Local views on larger issues
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Marriage rights activists will deliver a petition asking Mayor Kevin Johnson to join other mayors in support of same-sex marriage Tuesday morning at City Hall in a move they said they hope will cause him to consider endorsing Mayors for the Freedom to Marry.
“We’re not trying to force anybody’s hand or be aggressive in any way,” said Neil Pople, communications director for the Stonewall Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento and author of the petition. It has more than 300 signatures and is posted here. “We want to positively encourage the mayor and let him know that there are people who want this to happen.”
Last week’s ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against Proposition 8 – an amendment to the California Constitution that defines marriage as being between a man and a woman – was not the main thrust behind the petition drive, according to Pople, who said he started it several weeks ago.
“It started picking up progress around that time, but that wasn’t when it started,” he said.
The original goal was to get 200 signatures, and Pople said that seeing more than 300 on the petition Monday was “fantastic.”
While anybody – gay or straight, Sacramentan or not – can sign the petition, Pople said he thinks signatures from locals will be the ones that have the most impact on the mayor, as they are his constituents.
“I’m hopeful that people will listen to what’s right and wrong and treat each other with dignity,” he said. “I was born in Sacramento, and I want to eventually get married, and I want to be able to do that in my hometown."
Coordinating the delivery of the petition will be Roy Westfall, who said he, local Democrats and others will deliver the petition at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“I have a partner of three years, and this is important to me,” Westfall said. “I want my mayor to support my rights, and there’s a big difference between personal beliefs and the government’s actions. This is about separation of church and state.”
Johnson’s representatives did not return messages left Monday by press time.
Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.
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What I find extremely disappointing is that in the not-so-distant past, his marriage to Michelle Rhee would be illegal. One would think he would have more empathy for those fighting for equal rights who are continuing their struggle for the rights that he enjoys.
Kevin Johnson loves talking about his desire for Sacramento to become a world-class city (I won't even get into that subject) and I don't think homophobia has a place in a world-class city.
Unless there are underlying issues of homophobia and an inherent feeling that the LGBT community is inferior to other groups, why not anything less than marriage?
Different isn't bad.
Agreed, homophobia, like racism, sexism, ageism etc... does not have a place in any city.
If a person believes that a marriage should only be between people of the same races, are they racist?
Banning gays an lesbians from full equality is homophobia - if the mayor can give one reason on why gays and lesbians should not have full equality, I am all ears. He is trying to use the same arguements of those people that fought to keep marriages like his illegal.
Reality on reality's terms, folks. Sorry. Be happy in your domestic partnership.
And please don't raise bogus racial/ethnic shibboleths. Are you really going to claim separate men's and women's restrooms, clothing styles, etc. are like racial discrimination?
http://ransackedmedia.com/2012/02/07/u-s-130-mayors-sign-the-freedom-to-marry-pledge-guess-whos-missing/
Too bad Mayor Johnson doesn't think he should be held in the same regard. This is the answer I got when I asked his office why he wouldn't sign:
“Like President Obama, my personal belief is that marriage is between a man and a woman. But I strongly oppose discrimination being written into our constitution, and that’s why I opposed Prop 8 when it was on the ballot, supported measures on the City Council against it, and why I agree with the Court’s decision today.”
To which I reponded;
“So will he or won’t he sign the mayors for freedom pledge? He’s not the president, why is he alluding (himself) to Obama?”
That allusion to the President really bothered me. This is a pledge for mayors, why KJ thinks he should be held to the same standard as the President of the United States actually disturbs me. And for the record, it is my opinion that President Obama’s stance is a cop-out as well.
Even if your personal belief is that "marriage is between a man and a woman" you can still sign the pledge if you support equality. You don't have to marry a member of the same sex just because you support equality.
For example, I am an atheist, but I believe in the freedom of religion. It would be wrong of me to project my personal beliefs onto another, and even though I am not an elected official, I can realize that.