Sacramento mayoral candidate Kevin Johnson will announce today that he opposes a Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage – even though his personal belief is that marriage is "between a man and a woman."
According to a statement issued Tuesday by his campaign, Johnson opposes Proposition 8 "because it would write discrimination into the state constitution."
The press release said Johnson shares views with Sen. Barack Obama and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who oppose a ban on gay marriage in California but personally believe marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Proposition 8 would reverse a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Mayor Heather Fargo said Tuesday that Johnson made "a good move to oppose Prop. 8."
"Now we just need to convince him that marriage between gay people is in fact a good thing," Fargo said.
She said she has opposed Proposition 8 "since it has been drafted and will continue to campaign against it." The mayor has conducted four marriage ceremonies between same-sex couples since they were legalized in June.
Fargo has been endorsed by the Sacramento Stonewall Democrats, which is the region's largest Democratic organization, and is campaigning to shoot down Proposition 8.
The organization's president, Ed Bennett, said he was pleased Johnson was voicing his opposition to the proposed ban, but that his group would continue to support Fargo.
"She's been against Prop. 8 since the beginning and her opinion has always been voiced," Bennett said. "She left no doubt from the very beginning."
Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085.
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