Current Affairs

Maryland: Footballer and Governor to host event in support of equal marriage

Sep 19 2012
Written by Joseph McCormick

The Governor of Maryland, Martin O’Malley, has said he will join football player, Brendon Ayanbadejo, to host an event raising money towards legalising equal marriage in the state.

The event is Monday NIght Football, taking place on October 8 in Baltimore, Governor O’Malley confirmed in an email today, NBC reported

Brendon Ayanbadejo was unphased by a request from Delegate Emmett C Burns Jr to his club, the Baltimore Ravens, to silence him over speaking out in favour of equal marriage for all.

Governor O’Malley signed the bill in March which would have allowed same-sex couples to be issued marriage licenses, however, the opposition to the bill raised enough signatures to force the issue into referendum.

Mr Ayanbadejo has since spoken out again, to say that he thinks a high percentage of NFL players support equal marriage, but not before Chris Kluwe, another footballer supported him in a passionate letter, addressed to Delegate Burns.

A poll released by marriage equality advocates in Maryland, in August, suggested that voters may keep the state’s new laws in a ballot later this year, allowing them to come into effect in 2013.

If Marylanders vote in favour of equal marriage, they will be the first state to do so in a referendum. Maine, Minnesota and Washington states will also be voting on the same issue.