Glenn Fait, the former Republican mayor and city councilman of Folsom, did something he never imagined five years ago. He took out an ad in the local paper and announced that he is gay.

Fait, 65, said he felt so strongly about his opposition to Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that seeks to ban same-sex marriage, that he decided to out himself to the community where he has lived for more than 40 years.

"I think people will be surprised," said Fait.

The one-time president of the Rotary Club said he wanted to do something beyond donating and volunteering against the ballot measure.

"For weeks, I was trying to figure out what I can do and then I thought, well, I can do this."

Fait paid $660 for the quarter-page ad that ran Wednesday in the weekly Folsom Telegraph, which has a printing of 17,000.

"I have lived in Folsom most of my life," the ad began. "As a gay man, I have a personal interest in Proposition 8. My civil rights are at stake."

Fait, an associate dean at McGeorge School of Law, is not the first to out himself over Proposition 8. Earlier this month, the Rev. Geoffrey Farrow, a Fresno priest, announced to his parishioners that he is gay and asked them to vote against the initiative. Diocesan leaders removed the priest from his position.

No on Proposition 8 leaders said such public revelations have been rare, and they weren't aware of others.

"If there was ever a moment in our movement that demanded courage and acts of personal sacrifice, this is it," said Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a member of the executive committee of No on Proposition 8.

Fait said he felt compelled to buy the ad and announce he is gay because "it is a civil rights issue." He has no plans to marry but doesn't want anybody else to make that decision for him.

Supporters of the measure to make same-sex marriage illegal disputed Fait's reasoning. "His civil rights are not at stake. Prop. 8 does not take away any rights or benefits that registered domestic partners already have," said Chip White, press secretary for Yes on Proposition 8.

Fait was married for 40 years and raised two daughters. He was on the Folsom City Council from 1994 to 1998, serving as mayor from 1995-1996. He was also president of the Folsom Historical Society.

Five years ago, Fait came out to his family. "It was something that took a long time to come to terms with," he said.

Fait doesn't know what kind of reaction he'll get from the community. He hadn't heard from anyone Wednesday.

"I hope that some of the people who know me might take that into consideration when they vote," said Fait. "People often have stereotypes of gay people. It helps sometimes when they realize that someone they have a business or community relationship with is gay."

He told his family members before he placed the ad. "We totally respect him," said his daughter Marjorie Harper. She said the ad is "a little hard."

She said she was a somewhat uncomfortable that the ad mentioned her father's aunt Eleanor Fait, a well-known community activist who died several years ago. In the ad, Fait wrote that Eleanor Fait spent 50 years of her life with her partner.

Still, Harper approves of her father coming out in the ad. "It was a bold move."

No one called the paper to comment, newspaper officials said Wednesday. "Management thought it was interesting that he felt that strongly," said Jessica Armour, who works in advertising.

Wednesday, Fait spent the day doing chores around his house. He has had no second thoughts about that ad. "This issue is too important," he said. "I had to do something."

Call the Bee's Jennifer Garza, (916) 321-1133.