Following testimony from opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage, the San Diego City Council voted 6-2 on Monday to urge citizens to vote “no” on Proposition 8, the November ballot initiative that would eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry in California.

Joining Toni Atkins, Donna Frye, Scott Peters, Jim Madaffer and Ben Hueso, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer – who voted against signing a resolution last year in favor of same-sex marriage – changed course and supported Atkins’ motion.

Tony Young, a Democrat, and Brian Maienschein, a Republican, voted against the motion.

Last year, Faulconer joined Young and Maienschein and voted against the city filing an amicus brief in support of same-sex marriage to the California Supreme Court. Mayor Jerry Sanders signed the brief in an emotional news conference in October, 2007, after acknowledging his daughter is openly gay.

Proposition 8 qualified for the November ballot shortly after the California Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in May. Same-sex coupled began marrying in June.

Faulconer could not be reached for comment after Monday’s meeting, which more than 400 people attended. Council President Peters limited debate to 15 minutes for each side.

“Marriage is a union between one man and one woman,” said James Hartline, an ex-gay Christian activist. “This vote today doesn’t represent the will of the people of San Diego.”

The City Council’s vote followed a rally at City Hall by Proposition 8 supporters. Hartline and others said it was not necessary for the City Council to debate same-sex marriage, because voters will decide the issue on Nov. 4.

Hartline said he received more e-mails criticizing the council’s decision to address the item than he has on any other issue he has raised.

Hartline and others said they were disturbed the vote was taken “in the name of the city of San Diego,” when opinion is divided.

Bobby Udall, who identified himself as a Democrat, told the council it was out of its jurisdiction addressing the matter.

Also speaking in favor of Proposition 8 was a Catholic bishop and Sen. Christine Kehoe’s Republican opponent.

“Democracy is working very well – you’re all here,” said Atkins, who made the motion to recommend the “no” vote on Proposition 8. Atkins married her partner of eight years, Jennifer LeSar, on Sept. 6. “You know, if we followed tradition, many people would be enslaved,” said Atkins. “Love can’t be legislated, but contracts can. Nobody should be forbidden from entering a contract.”

Others who attended agreed.

“Mark [Matys] and I were married a week ago,” said Robert Gleason, a board member and past chair of The San Diego LGBT Community Center. “We stood for something we have known in our hearts for 16 years.”

Another San Diego resident, who said he is in an interracial marriage, said Proposition 8 would be “a chilling step backward.”

Rev. Scott Richardson, the dean of the Episcopal Church in San Diego, said all Episcopal bishops oppose Proposition 8.

“We believe all children are children of God. We believe we must keep civil rights,” he said, and added the measure would not force churches or ministers to marry same-sex couples.

The council also voted 7-1 to endorse Proposition A, the fire protection parcel tax, with Frye as the lone dissenting vote. It also voted 6-1 to support Proposition 11, the redistricting measure, with Young voting “no.”

The council also voted 7-0 to urge a “no” vote on Proposition 6, which expands criminal penalties and bars anyone convicted of a felony from living in public housing.