Beleaguered Maryland Delegate Sam Arora has walked it back on gay marriage, saying he'll support the measure, but adding that he wants voters to decide the issue.

The freshman lawmaker rode into the House of Delegates on the support of progressive Democrats and gay-friendly groups to whom he pledged his support for marriage equality.

But as the vote drew near in the House Judiciary Committee – of which he is a member – Arora began to waffle on the issue, creating a storm of protest from former supporters who denounced his wavering.

“By making campaign promises that you don't intend to keep, for the sole purpose of raking-in donations from Progressive and LGBT-friendly voters, you represent the worst in American politics. Enjoy your one term,” Zach Stewart wrote on Facebook.

On Friday, Arora said in a statement that he would vote for the bill on the House floor, but added that he had “wrestled” with his decision.

“I have heard from constituents, friends, and advocates from across the spectrum of views and have thought about the issue of same-sex marriage extensively,” Arora wrote. “As the vote drew nearer, I wrestled with this issue in a way I never had before, which led me to realize that I had some concerns about the bill.”

“While I personally believe that Maryland should extend civil rights to same-sex couples through civil unions, I have come to the conclusion that this issue has such impact on the people of Maryland that they should have a direct say. I will vote to send the bill to the floor because it deserves an up-or-down vote. On the floor, I will vote to send the bill to the governor so that Marylanders can ultimately decide this issue at the polls. I think that is appropriate.”

The statement isn't likely to mollify former supporters who were led to believe that Arora was a gay marriage, not civil unions, supporter.

In response to a questionnaire from Equality Maryland, the 30-year-old Arora said he “praised” Attorney General Doug Gansler's decision to recognize the out-of-state marriages of gay and lesbian couples.

“For me, it's simply a mater of equal rights under the law,” he wrote.

Additionally, Arora messaged his Twitter followers proudly boasting of his co-sponsorship of the gay marriage bill, and didn't show support for a civil unions bill briefly floated by Republican Senator Allan Kittleman.