SD Mayor Faulconer Named Director Mayors Group That Supports Same-Sex Marriage

An group of about 400 mayors who support same-sex marriages announced Thursday that San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has been named one of its seven directors.

Faulconer is following in the footsteps of former San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, who helped start Mayors For The Freedom to Marry.

"My strong support for marriage is rooted in talking to gay and lesbian people and hearing their personal stories," Faulconer said. "I can't look at my gay and lesbian constituents and tell them that their life commitment to the person they love isn't worth the same respect, dignity, and protections that straight people have."

He said that as a Republican, he values freedom, family and individual liberty, and that allowing gay people to marry fits those conservative ideals.

Freedom to Marry founder and president Evan Wolfson said more members of the GOP are invoking the values of freedom and family.

"Mayors have a crucial role in advancing the well-being of the families, businesses, and communities that they serve, including gay and lesbian Americans who want to take care of their family and make a lifelong commitment to the person they love," Wolfson said.

Other mayors who are directors of the group are Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Julian Castro of San Antonio, Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, Kasim Reed of Atlanta, Greg Stanton of Phoenix and Annise Parker of Houston.

—City News Service