San Francisco mayor: 'Defeating gay marriage is literally the Bush agenda'

From his second-floor office inside San Francisco City Hall, Mayor Gavin Newsom heard the commotion every few minutes just below his window: yet another newly married same-sex couple laughing their way down the structure’s ornate stone front steps.

“All of them,” he said, “are cheers of joy.”

In 2004, Newsom kicked off the so-called “Winter of Love” when he oversaw the marriage of thousands of gay and lesbian couples at City Hall, only to see them overturned by the courts. Four years later, in light of the recent state Supreme Court ruling lifting the ban on same-sex unions, Newsom says he hopes the marriages this time will be recognized by the nation and the world.

But along with the joy has come the jeering: Those against same-sex unions have picketed outside City Hall. Newsom said he was particularly offended at one sign that referred to gays as “fags.”

“That is such a schoolyard slang term,” he said. “It’s understandable with a 6-year-old who knows no better, but to have an adult use that word in this day and age is unbelievable.”

He urged state voters not to be duped by what he called a conservative agenda put forth by President Bush.

“Defeating gay marriage is literally the Bush agenda -- being carried out by his surrogates in California,” Newsom said. “I don’t want to see Bush’s legacy carried out in our state. Voters are smarter than that in California."

For Newsom, Tuesday was an emotional as well as a political day. While performing the wedding of two women, one with advanced breast cancer, Newsom said he choked back so much emotion he could barely speak.

“These are the moments that put life into perspective,” said the mayor, who lost his own mother to the disease.

But Newsom said he didn’t have time to celebrate after officiating at one of the state’s first gay marriages on Monday night.

“I had to work on the budget,” he said. "Just my luck -- the hearings started this week. So I was multi-tasking. I call it a reality check.”

-- John M. Glionna

Photo: AP

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, left, poses for pictures with same-sex couple Ronald McCullough, center, and Charles Hogan, of Fremont, Calif., after they were married at City Hall in San Francisco.

Comments

[Anonymous]

I have to say that I do not agree with this ruling of same-sex marriage. As a born again christian I cannot go against the standards and laws left by God in the bible. However I denounce any person harboring hate towards homosexual individuals, and any use of slang terms or other denounciations. This goes against the very teachings of Christ and it does not convey the love and compassion that Christ has for us. I wish of nothing bad to come to homosexuals I just do not agree with what they are doing and I hope that they would see the error of their ways. I just hope they realize all will bow before God one day and give an account of their life and sin no matter how big or small will keep them out of Heaven. So thats my thoughts on all this. We are each entitled to our own so I appreciate your time and patience.

[Bob]

"Hey Bob...

If the majority votes to make same-sex marriage unconstitutional you won't be able to say that what they want doesn't matter.A lot of us DO have a problem with wrong choices being declared "equal" to right ones."

Quite correct: if the California State Constitution is amended, then that will be the final word in California. For now, the law that was voted on was deemed unconstitutional in California.

I'm disappointed that it only takes a simple majority (please correct me if I'm wrong here) to amend California's constitution. Seems the bar should be higher, otherwise the state can fall prey to a "tyranny of the majority", something the Founders of our country were quite aware could happen. That's why the bar for amending the US Constitution is so high.

But that's the current law there, so that's what the citizens of California must live under. It will certainly be interesting to see how the vote goes.

[Dave]

All the opposition to marriage equality has to lean on is the bible, a collection of fairy tales and myth. Given the amount of magic described in its pages, one might as well put their faith in Harry Potter.
Please keep your ignorant beliefs in your churches. Your mythic babeling has no relevance.

[S. O'Malley]

All of you brain dead bloggers that believe that marriage is a right bestowed upon people by legal or political means, do not know what marriage is! Marriage is not something that man can change or define because it is not his creation. You see marriage is a covenant relationship created and defined by God. It is God who gave the woman to the man and made them one. The physical expression of the two becoming one takes place in the birth of a child. It is God who blessed that union by saying “be fruitful and multiply”. Same-sex couples cannot be fruitful or multiply. You see, marriage is about becoming a family. Not a family the way man defines it, but a family the way God defines it. Now, God could never say “be fruitful and multiply” to a union which He calls an abomination. So, if homosexuals want to have legally binding relationships, they have to call them something else. Marriage already exists and has existed since the beginning of mankind. Marriage has already been defined by its creator. Until God changes the definition of marriage, it stays the way it has always been. It is not a matter of civil rights, or homophobia, or discrimination, or anything like that. It is God creation. So if you don’t like it, take it up with God!

[Carson]

Good grief "S. O'Malley" are you kidding me?

If you're going to start quoting history and religion, get it right.....or at least include everything, not just select pieces you deem appropriate.

Historically, all the way back to the dawn of time (and religion), marriage has been about "property", NOT LOVE....and yes, it was about family, preserving that family's place in the community, or improving it by adding new famly members and the property ("riches") that come with HER.

It's also interesting how a text (that was written how many years ago?) can be interpreted to suit anyone's position. The bible and scripture also said that servitude was also acceptable and right, as well as a number of other things that we know today to be wrong. Scripture was written in the language of the time, to meet the people's needs of the times. Yes, basic messages exist that are timeless, but the words should never be quibbled over.

Funny how some religious people believe that their interpretations and scriptures are correct, and like to say that every religion agrees with them....when this isn't the case. The United Church of Christ, the Metropolitan Community Church, Unitarian Universalist, and many others all preach that everyone is loved by God and Christ, and that being gay is not a sin, nor perversion, or anything else touted by critics. God is the one who made us who we are, and subsequently is the only authority who can judge us....remember Judge Not Lest Thee Be Judged!

Carson

[David]

God bless Gavin Newsome for his visionary courage in allowing gay/lesbian citizens in committed relationships to marry. He took a big risk politically to do the morally right thing, even though it might not win in the opinion polls. He is to be commended. Gavin for Gov!