The Republican mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, who opposed same sex marriage when he was campaigning, opted not to veto a bill providing marriage rights to same sex couples on Thursday.
Why? Well, his daughter is a lesbian, but that’s not all.
In the time since, he said he realized he could not accept “the concept of a separate-but-equal institution.†Because of that, he continued, he was unwilling to send the message to anyone that “they were less important, less worthy or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage.â€
The mayor, now crying openly, noted that he has close family members and friends in the gay and lesbian community, including staff members and “my daughter Lisa.â€
“In the end, I couldn’t look any of them in the face and tell them that their relationships, their very lives, were any less meaningful than the marriage I share with my wife, Rana,†said Sanders, who quickly thanked reporters and dashed from the room. (emphasis mine)
Separate but equal, folks! You heard it hear first! It’s unconstitutional! Who knew?!