Saqib Ali is a practicing Muslim who attended high school in Saudi Arabia. It’s very impressive that he was elected to the state legislature in Maryland in the first place.

Even more amazing than that is this:

Now the Democratic delegate has come out in support of gay marriage, a position he announced publicly in an op-ed piece he wrote for a local Maryland publication, The Gazette.

In fact, he wrote this:

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. But I recognize that I represent people of all faiths and no faith at all. If I tried to enforce religion by law — as in a theocracy — I would be doing a disservice to my both constituents and to my religion.

So while he may personally oppose gay marriage — a stance I still find somewhat disturbing — he is putting his own beliefs aside and doing what is right for the people he represents.

That takes courage.

Now why can’t other anti-equal-marriage politicians say the same thing? Either they really believe gay marriage will ruin our society, in which case they’re delusional, or they just don’t want to lose votes (and will deny rights to their constituents in the process), in which case they deserve to get the boot from elected office.

We need more politicians like Ali.

(Thanks to Kaleena for the link!)



