Baltimore Raven opposes gay marriage

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BALTIMORE, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- A second player with the Baltimore Ravens has joined the fight over same-sex marriage in Maryland, but on the opposite side of the issue.

Center Matt Birk is expected to make a video this week opposing legalizing marriage for gay and lesbian couples, The Baltimore Sun reported. Birk, who comes from Minnesota has also made a video supporting a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state and wrote an op-ed piece that appeared Sunday in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo plans to appear at an upcoming fundraiser with Gov. Martin O'Malley to support the referendum that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland. Ayanbadejo earlier stirred the ire of State Rep. Emmett C. Burns Jr., D-Baltimore County, who complained in a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, after learning the player had donated Ravens tickets to a fundraiser for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.

Birk is a practicing Catholic and father of six.

"With good reason, government recognizes marriages and gives them certain legal benefits so they can provide a stable, nurturing environment for the next generation of citizens: our kids," he wrote.

Polls show more support for the referendum than against it. A poll last week for the Sun showed 49 percent of likely voters saying they would vote for same-sex marriage and 39 percent opposing it.