Fresno mayor takes on Newsom over City Hall marriages

[Kadie]

Fresno mayor takes on Newsom over City Hall marriages
But born-again official renews only traditional vows

Philip Matier, Andrew Ross
Sunday, August 29, 2004


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


There's a rising political star in the Central Valley -- and now he's taking a bite out of the Bay Area's own golden boy, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, over the issue of gay marriages.

Blunt-talking, born-again Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, best known for playing Officer "Bubba'' Skinner in the TV series "In the Heat of the Night,'' plans to preside tonight over a renewal of wedding vows by "traditionally married'' couples on the steps of Fresno City Hall.

Autry's in-your-face move -- which he's pulling off with help from a local church -- is a direct response to Newsom's decision to marry gay and lesbian couples at San Francisco City Hall back in February.

"I just believe that's bad," Autry said. "It further weakens the institution of marriage between one man and one woman that has been the social bedrock for hundreds of years.''

Autry -- a 52-year-old Republican who once played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers (using the name Carlos Brown, but that's a whole other story) -- said he supports civil unions and domestic partnerships for gays. Just not marriages.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/29/BAG858G9GQ1.DTL