Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Tuesday
endorsed marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples.
Reed, 43, made his announcement in a
press
release stating that he would sign a resolution in support of
marriage equality sponsored by openly gay Councilman Alex Wan and
adopted by the Atlanta City Council on December 3.
“Today marks an important day as I
announce my support for marriage equality,” Reed said. “It is
well known that I have gone through a good bit of reflection on this
issue, but listening to the stories of so many people that I know and
care about has strengthened my belief that marriage is a fundamental
right for everyone,” Reed said. “Loving couples, regardless of
their sexual orientation, should have the right to marry whomever
they want. By signing this resolution, I pledge my support to
marriage equality for same-sex couples, consistent with equal
protection under the law provided under the Fourteenth Amendment of
the United States Constitution.”
In comments to the Atlanta Journal
Constitution, Reed credited gay rights activists with changing
his mind.
“They were persuasive and they
changed my mind,” he said.
(Related: Atlanta
approves resolution supporting gay marriage.)