San Jose Mayor Urged To Sign Statement Supporting Same-Sex Marriage
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – Some members of the San Jose City Council are urging Mayor Chuck Reed to join other mayors in signing a statement supporting same-sex marriage.
The resolution authored by City Councilman Ash Kalra points out that San Jose is the only big city besides Dallas whose mayor hasn't signed. The statement has been supported by more than 200 mayors.
"If the President of the United States can make a statement that was so bold in endorsing marriage equality, than we have the right to have our mayor do the same," said Kalra.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
The mayor's office said coming a week before the election, the real agenda of the labor-backed council members is pension reform and not gay marriage.
Kalra called the claim ludicrous.
"Every time there's an issue that questions the mayor's judgment or asks the mayor to make a declaration, he can't just turn around and say this has to do with a political battle and it has to do with pension reform," Kalra said. "It doesn't. It's a civil rights issue. He doesn't have an answer to it. He goes back to the same response he gives to everything."
Mayor Chuck Reed, who wasn't immediately available for comment, has said in the past that he supports domestic partner benefits but not same-sex marriage.
(Copyright 2012 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
