Religious Leaders Lend Support To Gay Marriage

by NBC San Diego
POSTED: 1:18 pm PDT September 26, 2007

SAN DIEGO California -- Dozens of religious and faith leaders across San Diego are lending their support to same-sex marriage. On Wednesday, local ministers held a service celebrating in support of the controversial issue, filing a resolution, called an amicus brief, in the state's Supreme Court. The religious leaders are among 400 others to have filed a resolution asking the court to approve the same-sex marriage licenses.

The Rev. Kathleen Owens with the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego said, "It's basically reminding the court there are tons of people out there who support civil rights for same gendered couples."
Similar gatherings of religious leaders are taking place today in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo and North Hollywood. Owens said, "I don't think we're asking for special rights I think we are asking for the same treatment."
Rabbi Laurie Coskey with the Union for Reform Judaism said, "I hope our Supreme Court justices understand the complexities of the issues and the simplicity of the issue it's about not discriminating against people who love each other."
Last week, San Diego's City Council and Mayor Jerry Sanders declared their support for same-sex unions. In a tearful speech, Sanders announced his daughter is a lesbian and said, "I just could not bring myself to tell an entire group of our community they were less important, less worthy or less deserving of the rights and responsibilities of marriage than anyone else, simply because of their sexual orientation."

But the issue has its opponents, many of whom staged a protest Tuesday afternoon outside the El Cajon County Courthouse. Various East County Republicans, including two dozen politicians, city council members, members of school boards, and other organization leaders expressed their disappointment in the city's mayor. Many of the speakers said they felt "duped."

The court's response to amicus briefs are due Oct. 16. The court has not set a date for oral arguments.