Lots of political ads will air during the television broadcast of the Republican National Convention next week. One of them will feature San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. In it, he will express his support for an issue that most Republicans will not agree with: gay marriage.
The ad is produced by the gay rights organizations Human Rights Campaign and Freedom to Marry.
“In 2007 I announced my support for marriage equality for two reasons: family and freedom," Sanders says in the ad. "As a Republican, I believe in conservative values like responsibility and limited government.”
Sanders goes on to say that the Republican party is changing on the issue of gay marriage thanks to leaders like Dick Cheney and Laura Bush.
“Marriage strengthens families, and we need more of that in this country, not less," he says.
Five years ago at a live press conference, Sanders tearfully explained he decided not to veto a measure endorsing same-sex marriage because his daughter is gay.
When President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage in May, Sanders told KPBS he applauded the decision.
"I think there finally comes a time when you say I've gotta' do what's right, and I think that's exactly what the president's done, it's what I did," he said. "You know, it becomes a very personal decision at that point and you know that you can't look other people in the face and say I don't think you're as valuable as anybody else."
