It’s been a big week for advocates of gay marriage: legislation in its favor passed both New Jersey’s Assembly and Maryland’s Senate. However, this isn’t the first time Maryland lawmakers have debated this issue. Last year a similar bill died after being passed by the state senate. The bill’s failure was largely attributable to black representatives who were hesitant to back an issue so strongly opposed by the state’s black clergy. Governor Martin O’Malley has voiced his support, and now so has Reverend Delman Coates, pastor of a 6,000 strong black church. Reverend Delman Coates is a pastor at Mt. Ennon Baptist Church, located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where skepticism about gay marriage is high. He talks to us about his evolution of thought on this issue.
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