Mayor still ‘wrestling with beliefs’ on gay marriage

‘I deeply appreciate the contributions gays and lesbians make to our city’

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The AJC’s Jim Galloway passes along the following statement Mayor Kasim Reed, who’s earned criticism from LGBT advocates since the 2009 mayoral campaign for not supporting gay marriage (he supports civil unions). The mayor says that, unlike President Barack Obama, he’s ‘still wrestling with my own personal beliefs’ on the issue:

“I respect President Obama’s decision to stand in support of marriage equality. I have fought hard for the rights of gays and lesbians my entire political career, from protecting adoption rights for gay and lesbian families, to voting against Georgia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as a state senator, to serving as the state house sponsor for the only hate crimes bill ever passed in the state of Georgia.

“While I am still wrestling with my own personal beliefs on the issue of marriage, I deeply appreciate the contributions gays and lesbians make to our city every single day and I remain committed to Atlanta’s vibrant and diverse LGBT community.”

The Georgia Voice reports that local LGBT advocate and former Atlanta Public Schools and City Council candidate Charlie Stadtlander has started a Facebook group telling the mayor it’s time to ‘evolve’ on the issue and change his views.