The campaign working for passage of a
gay marriage bill in Maryland on Wednesday released a video featuring
the endorsements of religious leaders.
In the 90-second Marylanders for
Marriage Equality video, clergy from various religious denominations
testify in support of Governor Martin O'Malley's plan to make
Maryland the next state to legalize gay nuptials.
“Marriage helps build strong and
stable families and we should be doing everything we can to encourage
it,” the Rev. Candy Holmes says in the ad.
“I want for my gay and lesbian
neighbors the very same legal recognition and protections my wife and
I have enjoyed the past 46 years,” the Rev. Stephen Anderson says.
The Rabbi Daniel Burg of Baltimore City
is seen at a press conference saying, “We have an opportunity here
to invite same-sex couples to embrace the value of long term,
committed and legally recognized marriage.” (The video is embedded
in the right panel of this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)
Objections from religious leaders have
been credited with sinking last year's effort to legalize gay
marriage.
This year, supporters, including
O'Malley, have stressed the bill's religious protections.
Public hearings on the measure begin
Friday.
(Related: Rev.
Al Sharpton urges Americans to support gay marriage.)