Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake speaks out for Marriage Equality

(video from MDers4MarriageEqual and story from On Top Magazine)

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is the latest politician to join the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Marylanders for Marriage Equality campaign.

“I believe that all couples in Maryland, regardless of their sexual orientation, want their children protected under the law,” Rawlings-Blake says in her 50-second ad. “Just as a straight couple’s commitment to family is legally recognized, so too should a gay couple’s commitment be recognized by our state government.”

“It’s only fair. It’s only right. And our state must act to make it so,” she later adds. (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

Carrie Evans, executive director of Equality Maryland, thanked the mayor for her support.

“The mayor has been a longtime supporter of committed gay and lesbian couples getting married and building strong families,” she said in a statement.

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 in October.

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 NAACP Chairman Emeritus Julian Bond, Precious star Mo’Nique and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Source: youtube.com