Pastor says same-sex couples are 'worthy of death'

BALTIMORE - Controversial comments have surfaced in connection with the upcoming vote on same sex marriage in Maryland.

In a taped speech earlier this month, a Baltimore pastor said people who engage in homosexual behavior are "worthy of death" and he says, so are people who support them.

The referendum on same sex marriage will appear as "question six" on your ballot when you go to the polls.

Robert Anderson of the Colonial Baptist Church made the comments on a stage with other speakers at a town hall meeting.

“Those who practice such things are deserving of death. Not only do the same but -- watch this --

For those who also approve of those who practice these things. If we don't vote against it then we are approving these things that are worthy of death," he said.

Supporters of the same sex marriage referendum say that borders on hate speech.

“I think it's totally wrong,” said Ezekiel Jackson, of Marylanders for Marriage Equality. “I think it's disrespectful, I think it's mean-spirited, and I think they should apologize for it.”

The head of the Maryland Marriage Alliance, Rev. Derek McCoy -- who was seated next to Pastor Anderson in that video, released a statement Wednesday night which reads in part: “Any attempt to imply that Dr. Anderson's reading of scripture was a call to harm gays and lesbians is false and serves as a distraction from the real issues of this campaign.”

“You're saying not only are gays and lesbians worthy of death, but those who support them are also worthy of death,” Jackson responded. “I don't understand how else you could take that.”

Alethia Williams, heads the group "Jump the Broom for Marriage" which is also organizing against the same sex marriage issue. “Everybody has their methods,” she said. “I don't think that that is an effective way. Our organization, we come with love and knowledge, God's word and his understanding.”

Williams' group has its own controversial methods -- one of their mailers using features the phrase "My mommy is my daddy my daddy is my mommy but who is my aunt?”

“The people in the state of Maryland are going to vote this out i am sure of that. I mean, God's word is very clear,” Williams said.