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>> Starlene Burns: Good Morning Everyone. I am Reverend Starlene Jonah
Burns of SJB Ministries, LLC of Bowie, Maryland. When I started my
ministry in 2006, it was to serve everyone without a church home.
Therefore I serve those in need of pastoral guidance, spiritual
healing, relationship coaching, or officiating services for their
nuptials. I can tell you today, that because there are differences that
I know of, the experience that I’ve had, I can tell that there is no
difference between gay relationships and straight ones. Gay and Lesbian
couples have the same problems, the same hopes, the same dreams that
heterosexual couples have in their relationships and families. The only
thing that’s missing – here in Maryland, is that they cannot legally
get married. And provide the kind of protection that marriage and a
certificate brings. Oh yes, I said it. That piece of paper, that’s
meaningless to some, has a whole lot of meaning to those that cant get
it. Just imagine, being with someone for forty years and that person is
suddenly taken out of this world. Keep in mind that they are the sole
proprietor, and you have nothing to worry about other than looking
good. The mortgage is paid every month, all the bills are paid on time,
including the kids college education. Your credit cards, and that
expensive car. In a heterosexual marriage, a scenario like this one,
the financial fear of losing a loved one wouldn’t exist – because the
surviving spouse would know of her entitlement. Other than grieving the
love of the lost one, she would still have health insurance, survival
compensation, a house that becomes hers, and all the bells and whistles
that go with being a widow. In a same sex couple relationship, survival
benefits don’t exist. They would have to pay an inheritance tax on a
home, there would be no health insurance, and forget about claiming the
pension or retirement benefits – that’s not gonna happen. Because of
this, we need change, and we need it now. Our gay and lesbian people,
they need our help. So I want to thank Governor O’Malley for
recognizing this, and protecting religious liberty in his proposal. The
two, both religious freedom, and marriage equality, do go hand in hand.
So I will stand with you, and I will stand all of our gay and lesbian
people, until Maryland is an equal and just state.