Julian Bond, chairman emeritus of the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),
urges Marylanders to support gay marriage in a new PSA released
Tuesday.
“I know a little something about
fighting for what's right and just,” Bond says in the 30-second
spot for the Marylanders for Marriage Equality Campaign.
“Gay and Lesbian couples in Maryland
have the same values as everyone else: love, commitment and stable
families. They should have the same right to marry as the rest of
us.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, who
has committed to shepherding a gay marriage bill through the Maryland
Legislature during the upcoming legislative session, kicked off the
video campaign last month.
In his ad, O'Malley
argues that marriage equality and religious freedoms can coexist.
Pressure from religious groups has been credited with ending last
year's effort, which failed in the House of Delegates after passage
in the Senate.
Also joining the campaign are Precious
star Mo'Nique
and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon
Ayanbadejo.