The public testimony on behalf of gay marriage was impassioned at Napa City Hall Tuesday afternoon, but failed to win any new City Council support.

Only Councilman Mark van Gorder supported a city resolution endorsing the right of anyone, regardless of gender, to marry.

In keeping with views stated before the meeting, Mayor Jill Techel and Councilmen Peter Mott and Jim Krider declined to second van Gorder’s motion. This hot-button social issue was not proper city business, they said.

Councilwoman Juliana Inman was not present.

Before a room full of supporters, two dozen speakers asked the council to take a stand for equal marriage rights. Although this is a divisive issue, they said, a majority of Napa voters last November opposed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California.

“This is a chance to be on the right side of history,” said local resident Victor Davis.

“Separate but equal doesn’t work,” said J.E. Buckingham, a Napa High School teacher and coordinator of the campus Gay Straight Alliance. The council can strike a blow against discrimination, she said.

“We are your teachers, we are the ones who save your lives at Queen of the Valley, we are the ones who sell you your houses,” said Judy Naimo, a local real estate agent.

“I urge you to pass this resolution and help me give my gay son the same right to marriage and freedom from bigotry that all of you enjoy,” John Speck said.

Outside city purview

Not a single dissenting opinion was voiced during more than an hour of public testimony, creating the possibility that council opposition to taking on an explosive social issue might have softened.

It hadn’t.

Mayor Techel thanked everyone for coming and “telling your story,” but stuck by her earlier opinion that this was a state issue. A legal challenge to Proposition 8 was argued before the California Supreme Court this month, and a ruling is expected before summer.

Mott said he appreciated the crowd’s “passion and resolve,” but said same-sex marriage should be resolved by the state Legislature, the courts and at the ballot box.

“I do not feel it’s an issue I can speak to at the council level because I believe it is outside the purview of city government and our jurisdiction,” Mott said.

Krider rejected the argument that same-sex marriage was all about discrimination. As an elected leader, Krider said it was his responsibility to represent all Napans, including those who believe same-sex marriage is wrong.

“It has to be voted on by the state,” he said. “Your passion should be taken to Sacramento.”

Contrary to his fellow council members, van Gorder said a vote for marriage equality seemed as much a matter of council business as the routine items that normally fill a council agenda.

Several gay and lesbian city residents had asked him to float a same-sex marriage resolution before the council, van Gorder said. They hoped the resolution would influence the state Supreme Court.

Van Gorder said he decided to scale back the scope of the request, making it a simple declaration that everyone should be able to marry.

While attending Santa Rosa Junior College in the 1980s, van Gorder said, he was with a group of gays who were attacked by men with baseball bats. His friends received broken ribs, arms and legs, while he got a bloodied face.

“That’s my personal reason” for the resolution, van Gorder said. “I know about the discrimination. I know about the hatred. I know about the attacks.”

“Mark for mayor,” a voice shouted.

“You didn’t hear us,” yelled another.