Why We Support Marriage Equality 

We are elected officials, pastors, community leaders, activists, students, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers who are collectively standing up for fairness, justice and equality for our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters.

As African Americans, we more than most know that discrimination is wrong and that it damages us all when we exclude any group from the legal protections that others enjoy.

In unity, we declare our support for marriage equality for committed same-sex couples.

We believe that love and commitment are the essence of family and that family is the foundation of strong Black communities. We seek to ensure that all Black families - including those led by committed same-sex couples - have the full protection of the law. Marriage equality will help ensure that families headed by committed gay and lesbian couples can share health insurance, visit each other in the hospital, and make medical decisions for their loved ones in times of crisis. In addition, Economic disparities affect a significant number of black children. Denying African American same-sex couples the protections of marriage puts them and their children at a legally sanctioned disadvantage.

We believe this discrimination is wrong.

Therefore - recognizing and respecting that there are differing opinions - we as people of faith and good conscience, stand together in support of marriage equality for all citizens of the State of Maryland and beyond.