Bishop Harry Jackson has suggested that
Maryland's gay marriage law will turn young children gay.
Governor Martin O'Malley is expected on
Thursday to sign
a gay marriage bill approved by lawmakers into law, making
Maryland the eighth state to legalize such unions.
Jackson, a minister at the Hope
Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland, came to prominence fighting
against the District of Columbia's gay marriage law and last year's
effort to pass a similar law in Maryland.
Opponents of the law, including the
National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the Maryland Catholic
Conference and the Maryland Family Alliance, have formed the Maryland
Marriage Alliance, which is organizing to put the law up for a
popular vote in the fall.
Speaking to the Christian
Post, Jackson, who is leading fundraising efforts for the new
coalition, said he objected to the law because it hurts children.
“It is an oxy-moron,” Jackson said.
“Two people of the same sex who marry and try to indoctrinate
children into that lifestyle does nothing to strengthen marriage or
families.”
“If you change the definition of
marriage, you change the definition of family, then you change what
is taught in schools – that it's okay for Heather to have two
mommies – and exploring your 'sexual awareness' as a young child is
acceptable; and it's not.”
In the District of Columbia, where gay
nuptials are legal, “It's encouraged in public schools to teach
children – young children – to explore and examine the
differences in heterosexuality, homosexuality and transgender
lifestyles. Now you and I both know that children should not be
encouraged to examine these types of issues, especially in public
schools. To say that it's okay for Heather to have two mommies is
not biblical,” Jackson stated without offering evidence supporting
his claims.
Jackson also predicted the law would be
repealed.
“I feel our opponents have become so
aggressive on this issue, that they are overplaying their hands and
only harming our culture. Yes, they may win a battle or two here and
there but our side will prevail in the long run.”