Md Lawmaker Gay Marriage Against Public Policy

Maryland delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. is sponsoring a measure that would prohibit the recognition of same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions and declare that same-sex marriages are against the public policy of the state.

The measure from Burns, a Baltimore County representative, arrives as state attorney general Doug Gansler reportedly is preparing to issue an opinion on out-of-state marriage recognition.

According to the Associated Press, similar attempts to ban same-sex marriage recognition have failed to reach the floor for a vote in the past.

"The house of delegates judiciary committee has rejected similar measures introduced before, which prevented the bill from going to the House floor for debate," reported the AP.