O'Donnell Saddened by Same Sex Marriage Law

Press Release

Tony O'Donnell, candidate for Maryland's 5th Congressional District seat in the US House of Representatives and the Republican Leader of the Maryland House of Delegates, is calling on Marylanders who value the sanctity of marriage to support a petition placing this critical issue on the November ballot so that Marylanders can decide for themselves.

House Bill 438 was signed yesterday by Governor Martin O'Malley, a strong supporter of gay marriage. It changes the definition of marriage from between a man and a woman to between two individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from marrying thus legalizing same-sex marriage.

O'Donnell remarked, " I think this is a sad day for Maryland. I have talked to dozens of very concerned citizens and members of the clergy from various faiths who believe it is morally wrong to change the definition of marriage. I agree with them and that is why I fully support the petition effort to allow the people of Maryland to vote for or against the gay marriage law on the ballot in November."

O'Donnell, who helped lead the fight against the gay marriage bill in the House of Delegates, said his congressional campaign would spearhead a bipartisan drive for signatures in Congressional District 5 (Prince George's, Charles, Anne Arundel, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties). O'Donnell said his opponent, 31 year congressional incumbent Steny Hoyer "represents an elitist view that disregards his constituent's values. I will respect and represent those values."

O'Donnell noted that Hoyer's Senior Advisor, State Delegate John Bohanan, voted in favor of the gay marriage bill. He also pointed to Hoyer's support for repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and Hoyer's support for the repeal of "Don't ask; Don't tell" as it applied to the military. "Hoyer is totally on board with the gay agenda," said O'Donnell. "He is going to learn that Maryland is not Hollywood."

Defenders of traditional marriage can get additional information on the petition drive at MDPetitions.com.

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