Health & Fitness

Redistricting Retaliation Possible Because of Burns' Same-Sex Marriage Stance

Democratic delegate backs ministers in opposing same-sex marriage

Del. Emmett Burns said Friday that his stance against same-sex marriage has made him the target of bullying from his colleagues in the General Assembly and could result in his district being redrawn as retaliation.

Burns, a Democrat who represents the 10th District, made his comments to The American Independent following a news conference in west Baltimore.

Burns, a pastor at Rising Sun Baptist Church, is backing a group of fellow ministers in forming a political action committee focused on fighting same-sex marriage in Maryland.

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“We will stand with any elected officials [that oppose same-sex marriage],” Burns told the publication.

Over the last 10 years Burns has sponsored several bills seeking to ban same-sex marriage in Maryland. He has also been critical of proponents who have likened the effort to legalize same-sex marriage to the civil rights struggle of the 1950s and 1960s.

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An effort to legalize s. Gov. Martin O'Malley said earlier this year he would make in the coming year.

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