Fight Continues For & Against Marriage Equality In Md.
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Controversy continues over Question 6 as the fight for and against marriage equality in Maryland heats up as the election closes in.
Mary Bubala has the latest.
At the corner of Light and Pratt downtown, a rally was held in support of marriage equality. Question 6, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, is on the ballot and will be decided by Maryland voters.
The rally comes just as the rhetoric around this issue heats up with controversial statements from a local pastor.
At a recent town hall meeting, Pastor Robert Anderson of the Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, had strong words for those who vote "yes" on Question 6.
"If we don't vote against it, then we are approving these things that are worthy of death," Anderson said.
Delegate Heather Mizeur supports marriage equality.
"The incendiary and divisive comments that he made are unfortunate, but at the end of the day when we win on Question 6 it will be that we are standing on the side of love," Mizeur said.
WJZ spoke with the pastor, who despite the backlash is not backing away from his words, which he says came straight from the Bible.
"The text mentions liars and greedy people and all kinds of other things, so the text is trying to communicate that sin is sin in God's eyesight, and sin ultimately leads to death," Anderson said.
On Thursday, Jewish community leaders gathered to express support for Question 6.
A local rabbi spoke about his own son, who he says is gay.
"We would like him to be married in his home state of Maryland, to go to the court house and receive a civil marriage license, to receive all the protections and responsibilities of marriage. It is the right thing to do," said Rabbi Steven Fink, Temple Oheb Shalom.
A recent Washington Post poll finds 52 percent of voters would support same-sex marriage; 43 percent oppose.
Opponents say those polls aren't accurate because many people who are polled vote differently in the privacy of a voting booth.
If Questions 6 passes, Maryland would become the first state where voters approved same-sex marriage.
