DeMaio Went Missing in Action on Prop. 8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2014
CONTACT: Alex Roth, 619-228-3253

San Diego -- Yesterday California officially repealed Prop. 8, the infamous ballot measure that outlawed same-sex marriages. Here's a reminder of what Carl DeMaio did to oppose this discriminatory law: Nothing.

In 2008, DeMaio refused to take a public stance on Prop. 8 when the controversial measure was on the California ballot. Not only that, while running for San Diego mayor in 20102 he took campaign contributions from some of Prop. 8's biggest supporters. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/may/14/carl-demaio-talks-about-his-bid-mayors-office-san-/

He convinced one such Prop. 8 supporter, Charles LiMandri, to back his mayoral candidacy by promising that he "would not push the gay agenda issues (including same-sex marriage)" as a "condition of [LiMandri's] support," according to San Diego CityBeat. http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/blog-906-why-an-anti-gay-zealot-is-backing-carl-demaio.html

DeMaio's refusal to fight against LGBT discrimination is one of the reasons he was booed at the 2012 San Diego Pride Parade. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/19/demaio-has-a-rocky-relationship-with-the-gay/

Rep. Peters, meanwhile, has been fighting for marriage equality since he first ran for City Council in 1999. At the time the controversial 'Knight Initiative (Proposition 22) was on the ballot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_22_(2000) He opposed the measure even though he was running in a more conservative, Republican-leaning district. He served on the City Council from 2000-2008, and as council president, led the effort to have the Council join an amicus brief arguing that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional.

"Carl DeMaio has been missing in action when it comes to fighting for LGBT equality; he didn't oppose Prop. 8, and he refuses to call on Speaker Boehner to bring ENDA to the House floor," said Alex Roth, communications director for the Peters for Congress campaign.

Roth added, "DeMaio seems to think that if he puts his fingers in his ears, closes his eyes and hums, he can ignore these critical civil-rights issues by pretending they are only insignificant 'social issues.' But members of Congress vote on these matters. The public deserves to know where he stands and what types of votes he will cast in Congress."