Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has added his voice to the chorus of people seeking marriage equality in Hawaii.

Caldwell issued a lengthy statement today in which he outlines why supports gay marriage.

Here’s some of what he had to say:

“Hawai‘i has always been known for its spirit of tolerance and making all people feel welcome. We live in one of the most diverse places in the world, and for the most part, we all get along.  LGBT people were a part of traditional Hawaiian culture, and they are a celebrated part of our community today.

“Hawai‘i has a long history of leadership in equal rights.  Hawai‘i was the first state to ratify the equal rights amendment for gender equality.  We are home to the first Asian American Governor and U.S. Senator, the first Native Hawaiian Governor, U.S. Senator, and Member of Congress, and of course the first African American President of the United States of America.

Two bills have been introduced in the Legislature that would legalize gay marriage.

And last week, Honolulu City Council member Stanley Chang introduced a resolution urging lawmakers and Gov. Neil Abercrombie to support the legislation.

Caldwell said he’s added his name to a list of nearly 300 mayors across the country who have publicly supported same-sex marriage.

—Nick Grube