More Mayor Sanders, Please.

Here's some happy news for a change! The Republican mayor of San Diego (my home away from home every July) has changed his mind and embraced same-sex marriage. He says he now will sign a "resolution that the City Council passed ... directing the city attorney to file a brief in support of gay marriage [with the California Supreme Court]."

Originally, he would only support the politically popular 'civil union' compromise. He says now that "The concept of a 'separate but equal' institution is not something I can support... I want for them the same thing that we all want for our loved ones -- for each of them to find a mate whom they love deeply and who loves them back; someone with whom they can grow old together and share life's experiences."

He acknowledges that his love for his lesbian daughter also helped change his mind.

Salon's Joan Walsh has video of his press conference... here.

This, of course, all occurs as part of a larger battle over gay marriage in California. The state legislature has again passed a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state. Governor Schwarzenegger still intends to veto this bill. One can hope, however naively, that the courage of the Mayor Sanders of his own state will change his mind.

[PS- GOP front-runners have a shameful history of supporting gay civil rights. Shhhh.]