Maryland’s first Muslim legislator speaks out in support of gay marriage [audio]
”I expect some day people will look back at this fight for equality like we now look back on oddly antiquated anti-miscegenation laws. I’m proud that I’ll have stood on the right side of history: In support of full marital rights for same-sex couples. My stance on this issue isn’t politically expedient. I am the first Muslim in the legislature. Homosexuality is strictly forbidden in Islam. As such I have evinced much grief from my most conservative supporters.”
Portion of an op-ed written by Saqib Ali, Maryland’s Delegate for the 39th District — Montgomery Village, North Potomac and Germantown. (Gazette)
”What I feel is that, people have elected me to not only do what is popular but to do what is right. And I think that is the real definition of a leader. But if people did what was popular, only, then we probably never would have had the Civil Rights Act in the ’60s…. I represent people who are of all faiths, and of no faiths, and if I simply try to force my religion on to all these people and the people of Maryland, as they do in a theocracy, I would be doing a disservice to my constituency and a disservice to my religion in fact…. There’s a very strict separation, in my mind, between church and state — or religion and state…. To the members of the clergy, and to my family members who are very upset at me, I say, ‘Look, I understand that you disagree. And if you are opposed to this, I strongly urge you not to perform same-sex marriages…. But let those people in the state who want those rights and protections that come with civil marriage. Let them have it, because it doesn’t affect my marriage. It doesn’t affect anybody else’s marriage. It doesn’t harm us in any way.”
Democratic Delegate Saqib Ali, of Montgomery County, Maryland, speaking to Michelle Martin on NPR’s ”Tell Me More.” Ali says he expect marriage equality to be enacted by 2011 in Maryland. (NPR)
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