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Newsom Looks Beyond Marriage Equality


GAVIN NEWSOM 201002 X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

San Francisco mayor and California lieutenant governor candidate Gavin Newsom hopes to be less associated with marriage equality than he's been in the past.

The Bay Citizen reports that the Newsom — who issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004, leading to a lawsuit that reached the California supreme court and reverberated nationally — is distancing himself from the issue of marriage equality. After admitting to the newspaper that he's chosen to be less outspoken on the topic of gay marriage, especially in light of the August 4 federal court decision that ruled Proposition 8 unconstitutional, he said: "[Same-sex marriage] is at a completely different level now. What we needed to do in 2004 was to put a human face on it, and I think we achieved that goal. Now let's take the politics and the politicians out of it."

By tempering the talk on same-sex marriage, Newsom may be hoping to capture voters in California's conservative San Joaquin Valley as well as Orange County and other right-leaning parts of the state. He's running for lieutenant governor against Republican Abel Maldonado, who currently holds the position. Maldonado has not yet made marriage equality an issue in the campaign, nor has he taken advantage of the infamous video clip of Newsom, after the state supreme court threw out a ban on same-sex marriage in 2008, saying gay marriage was coming "whether you like it or not." That clip was used effectively in the campaign for Proposition 8, which narrowly won passage. Newsom does admit that speech was not his shining moment.

Some pundits think Newsom could use the marriage equality issue to his advantage in the election. 

"From Day 1 in 2004, he stepped out on the issue," Chris Lehane, a San Francisco political consultant told the newspaper. "He now has an indelible courage brand, which every politician is striving to get."

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Tod
    Date posted: 8/22/2010 3:57:14 AM
    Hometown: West Hollywood

    Comment:

    If he distances himself and tries to shove it in a box it will look like he's ashamed of his involvement and will imply what has happened should not have. The fact is that running for Lieutenant Governor he must have strong responses to many more issues. The economy, state budget, business climate, employment, immigration, education, welfare programs, environment are all very important and front issues he must speak on more than civil rights. As far as our rights go, he just has to say what Jerry Brown and Gov Schwarzenegger has already said, point out the sky hasn't fallen where it is legal and that CA needs to accept and put it behind us. As a L Gov much of what he does is to support the Gov, so he takes his lead for Jerry Brown. But if someone says "do you regret getting into the middle of the gay marriage debate," he should say "absolutely not." FDR wouldn't back down, he would say it would give him the chance to tell them why not and how it should be.

  • Name: CountryBoy
    Date posted: 8/21/2010 8:33:50 AM
    Hometown: MO

    Comment:

    This man has truly been a friend to LGBT citizens; not just in California, but nationwide. A politician who had the guts to do what was RIGHT; rather than shifting with the political winds (Are you listening, John McCain?). Newsom realizes that S-S marriage is both a present and future reality and he is moving on to other matters. I applaud him for everything he has done for us and wish him well in his campaign.

  • Name: timo
    Date posted: 8/20/2010 9:13:15 PM
    Hometown: chicago

    Comment:

    i agree. he's done enough for us. needs to focus on himself and his career. thanks for doing more than any other politician has!

  • Name: Anthony
    Date posted: 8/20/2010 7:56:28 PM
    Hometown: New York, NY

    Comment:

    I agree with Shane...he has done a tremendous amount for the gays and I can't fault him for moving onto other issues. Not to say that I think he should turn his back on us (not that I think he would) but I dont think this has to, or even that it would be smart for it to be his main topic. Cali has a lot going on and he needs to address that. As a side note he has remarkably white teeth, I would love his dentist's phone number.

  • Name: Shane
    Date posted: 8/20/2010 7:46:35 PM
    Hometown: Oceanside, CA

    Comment:

    he should focus on himself, he has done amazing things for us and we will never forget it. But he cannot only be known for bringing about gay marriage.



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