Outgoing Republican San Diego Mayor
Jerry Sanders has called reversing this opposition to gay marriage
“the most important thing I did.”
The 62-year-old Sanders in 2007 held an
emotional press conference in which he tearfully reversed his
opposition to marriage equality, telling reporters “I have close
family members and friends who are members of the gay and lesbian
community. Those folks include my daughter Lisa.”
Sanders, also a former San Diego chief
of police, will take over the reigns of the San Diego Chamber of
Commerce in December.
In August, Sanders
starred in an ad calling on Republicans to support gay nuptials.
Speaking to the San
Diego Union-Tribune, Sanders said he's still emotional about
the issue.
“I think it's the most important
thing I did,” he said.
“Equality isn't something you can
quantify. But it's something that has to be there. I think it's
coming right away. The Supreme Court's going to take up [the appeal
of Prop. 8 supporters] and I think they're going to let [gay
marriage] stand in California because they don’t want to deal with
it. The voters are going for it. Young people, that is not even in
their concern list. We're all taught from the day you start school,
equality's very important. And you look at the civil rights
movements – this is exactly what this is. And so playing a little
part in it, it's been good.”