New approach to marriage equality in Maryland

A coalition of organizations will announce a new campaign to win marriage equality in Maryland at a news conference today.

The list of groups involved in the new effort includes Equality Maryland, Progressive Maryland, the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign, Freedom to Marry, Service Employees International Union and more.

The goal of the new effort is to pass a marriage equality bill in the 2012 Maryland legislative session, which begins in January. A marriage equality bill died in the House of Delegates in March after passing the Senate. Gov. Martin O’Malley has pledged to sign such a bill.

Read more at the Washington Blade.

Bishop Harry Jackson: The Black Church Stopped Gay Marriage in Maryland

He goes on to say "we are going to stop gay marriage in it's tracks."

Maryland: No Marriage Equality this year

 

It looks like there won't be marriage equality in Maryland this year.

From The Washington Post: The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to effectively kill for this year a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage in Maryland.

The House approved on voice vote a motion to send the bill back to the Judiciary Committee, an acknowledgment by supporters that it did not have sufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The bill cleared the Senate two weeks ago on a 25-to-21 vote, and Gov. Martin O'Malley had pledged to sign it.

Advocates for the bill had hoped Maryland would join five other states and the District in allowing same-sex marriages. The bill had significant momentum coming out of the Senate but ran into resistance in the Democatic-led House from African American lawmakers from Prince George's County, who cited religious opposition in their districts, and conservative Democrats in Southern Maryland and the Baltimore suburbs.

Reports say the vote looked to be within one or two votes shy of passing.

It's unclear what happens now, but it seems the issue could be dead for the year.

UGH!

Possible amendment to Maryland Marriage Equality Bill

Evidence of just how close the votes look to be on the marriage equality bill in Maryland, leaders in the House of Delegates are considering a "friendly" amendment to the bill that would broaden the intended protections for churches and religious organizations.

Until now, House leaders have sought to resist amendments as that would require sending the bill back to the state Senate. With no amendments, the bill can go directly to the governor's desk for signing.

From the Washington Post: The amendment, sought by Del. John A. Olszewski Jr., would tweak language intended to provide protections to religious organizations whose beliefs are not compatible with same-sex marriage.

As it stands, the bill says that religious organizations that oppose same-sex marriage are not required to engage in a range of activities related to "the promotion of marriage, through religious programs, counseling, educational courses, summer camps, and retreats, in violation of the entity's religious beliefs."

Olszewski's amendment would cut the specific examples contained in the provision, in hopes of broadening the intended protections.

Maryland House defeats 4 anti-gay amendments to Civil Marriage Bill

From JoeMyGod: After voting down four hostile GOP amendments, the Maryland House of Delegates has just voted to advance its marriage equality bill to a third (and possibly final) reading tomorrow. Here are the failed poison pills offered by the enemies of equality:

Amendment 1: "This Act may not be construed to require an entity to provide adoption, foster care, or social services if providing the services would violate the entity's religious beliefs."

Amendment 2: "Providing that, in a public school that offers instruction involving materials that promote same-sex marriage, a public school teacher may not be required to teach the materials and a parent shall be given an opportunity to have the parent’s child excused from the instruction under certain circumstances."

Amendment 3: "Change title of Act to 'Same-Sex Marriage Act'."

Amendment 4: "To require a public referendum on same-same marriage."

The final vote could come as soon as Thursday.

(via email by openly gay Delegate Luke Clippinger)

Marriage equality and the hyperbole that opposes it

I am constantly amazed during the discussions and arguments against marriage equality that the "meaning" of the word "marriage" always seems to be the catalyst for continued discrimination against the LGBT community in the US. The idea that important rights and privileges that come from a civil license issued by a civil government gets pushed aside by the proponents of LGBT discrimination. That somehow the legal rights of hospital visitation, inheritance, etc, are not at the heart of what LGBT families want out of all of this.

As the debate for marriage equality begins in the Maryland House of Delegates this week, several delegates have been assailed by constituents on behalf of religious beliefs with the always constant screed of "marriage has always been between a man and a woman - the Bible says so."

Keisha Huggins of Maryland said gay people worship at First Baptist but said her pastor, John K. Jenkins Sr., has made it clear to his congregation that same-sex marriage does not line up with Bible scripture.

"As a Christian we have love for everyone, but we're following the word of the Lord that a man and woman should be together," Huggins said.

I have nothing against the Bible. There are some great ideas are in there. But tradition is never a solid justification for discrimination. And in this country, we have freedom of religion. You do not have to be christian, muslim or jewish if you don't want to be. You can be an atheist or agnostic and still be a law abiding American. Marriage - technically speaking - is a civil contract based on a civil license from the government. Not a church. Churches do not issue marriage licenses. Nor do they create or enforce tax benefits or hospital visitation rights.

There is a curious ongoing idea that, somehow, same-sex marriage rights are NOT a civil rights issue. This particular argument often comes from the African-American community, as if the phrase "civil rights" can only be used in terms of the fight for equality in their community.  But "civil rights" applies to any group who is looking to have the same rights as everyone - whether that group is made up of women, latinos, blacks, or the LGBT community.  Civil rights are about equality for all. Not just one community. It's not as though gays & lesbians are co-opting something and thereby demeaning it's language in reference to anyone else.

Juan McCoy, who lives with his partner, Chris Williams, and their five children in Maryland, said it is frustrating to listen to politicians whose rights are not being affected like his are. His senator, C. Anthony Muse, voted against the bill in the state senate. "It's a throwback, and that's what's disappointing to me about many of the delegates in the House that continue to accept this type of discrimination. To put obstacles in the way of other groups to me is just baffling."

Maryland House Majority leader Kumar Barve said "It's going to be close but I think that a majority of the House feels that this is a civil rights issue and it's a matter of giving the same rights and privileges and responsibility to loving, same sex couples that married people like me have," Barve said.

Yet, there are some, even within Barve's party, who disagree.

"I will argue for the position that civil rights were not the same, our civil rights, the movement was not the same," Democratic delegate Emmett Burns, Jr., who is African-American, told Reuters. "Those who juxtapose the two are gravely mistaken."

Opposition from the far right likes to say that same-sex marriage is a cause of the disintegration of heterosexual marriage - as if the opportunity for two men to get married would somehow lure straight men from their heterosexual marriages. I've personally never met a truly straight man who decided "hey, I can get gay-married now. Screw this straight stuff - let's go Bob!" It's just not happening.

Colbert King, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for the Washington Post wrote last week: "It's still beyond me how gay marriage affects the already married or heterosexuals who want to get married."

"I understand even less, if that's possible, the concentration of conservative black pastors on gay marriage when the real and present danger is the decline of marriage among African Americans -- an ominous trend that has nothing to do with the desire of two people of the same sex to marry. Gay, lesbian and transgender people and their desire to get married have nothing to do with the decline of marriage and family in the African American community."

"What ails us comes from within and from societal conditions unrelated to same-sex marriage. If anyone should know that, it's the black preacher."

I continue to hope that in Maryland, and eventually across the nation, people will focus on the civil rights - yes, civil rights - component of this debate and not the finger-pointing, religious bias that keeps the discussion from the important issue at hand. And that's equality for all.

Maryland: Marriage Equality passes Committee vote

From Metro Weekly: Maryland's House Judiciary Committee voted today 12-10 in favor of the passage of Senate Bill 116.

The bill now moves on to the House of Delegates for a floor vote. That vote is expected in the coming week. SB-116 passed through the Senate on Feb. 24, with a 25-21 vote.

The vote came after several amendments were discussed on March 4, including one by Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington County) to allow grandmothers to marry their grandsons. That amendment was withdrawn.

If signed into law, the legislation would grant same-sex couples in the state legal marriage recognition, while also protecting the rights of religious institutions to handle issues of marriage however they see fit.

Opponents have threatened to take the issue to take the marriage legislation to the ballot box. According to Maryland's State Board of Elections, opponents of the marriage bill can start collecting signatures for a statewide referendum immediately after the passage of the bill in the House of Delegates, before Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signs the bill.

A total of 55,736 signatures are required on the petition and must be submitted to Secretary of State John P. McDonough (D) by June 30. One third of those signatures are due on May 31.

Maryland: House Delegate Sam Arora flip-flopping back and forth on Civil Marriage bill

Freshman Maryland Delegate Sam Arora campaigned on a platform of marriage equality in Maryland. He specifically went after and got the support of Progressive Maryland and of Equality Maryland. He raised lots of money based on his specifically stated support of marriage equality for the LGBT community.

He co-sponsored the marriage equality bill now working it's way through the Maryland state legislature.

But a few days ago, he let some constituents know he planned to vote "no" on the bill once it reached the House floor. Immediately people in Maryland started scratching their heads -"How do you campaign on a specific issue, co-sponsor the bill then CHANGE YOUR MIND???"

In reports circulating the news, Arora has said in past days point blank that he would be voting against marriage equality because he is "born again" and doesn’t want to "redefine marriage." He has even gone so far as to remove a Twitter post from January 25th declaring his co-sponsorship and support for marriage equality.

Needless to say this has caused a huge backlash against Arora. Scores of campaign donors are asking for their money back saying he lied during the campaign.

Today, Arora posted a statement saying:

"I will vote to send the bill to the floor because it deserves an up-or-down vote. On the floor, I will vote to send the bill to the governor so that Marylanders can ultimately decide this issue at the polls. I think that is appropriate."

In other words, he'll vote for it so it can be repealed by referendum.

Apparently, according to Todd E. Eberly, a political science professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland, "some delegates signed onto the legislation because they thought it would not clear the Senate. When Senate passage became a possibility, they got scared. If you're a proponent of the bill, you certainly don't feel as confident as you did a week ago."

So this elected official specifically campaigned to vote one way - cashing lots of checks along the way from supporters - thinking he wouldn't have to ever make that fateful vote. And now, he's been caught having to do just that.

While I don't agree with anti-LGBT politicians, at least they are honest when they campaign. But to go out and actively seek votes and campaign dollars LYING to the people who are writing the checks to you - that is honestly the lowest you can go in politics. People should know who and what you honestly stand for in a campaign. Take a stance and be man enough to stand up for it. But don't lie to folks just to get their dollars.

I hope Delegate Sam Arora does indeed follow through on his campaign promises.  It will be very interesting to see how he fares in the next election cycle.  My personal opinion is there is no place in public office for someone THIS lacking in integrity.

Maryland: Marriage Equality vote in House today

The Maryland House Judiciary looks set to vote on the Civil Marriage Protection bill today. Sponsors of the bill hold 12 of the committee’s 22 seats, making passage likely, but approval by the full House is still uncertain.

While Democrats hold a 98-43 majority in the House, it remains unclear if they have enough votes for passage. Supporters said Friday there were about 68 House delegates ready to vote in favor of the measure — a few shy of the 71 votes needed.

Governor Martin O'Malley has said he plans to sign the bill into law if it reaches his desk.

Maryland: Marriage Equality Passes in Senate 25-21!

The Maryland State Senate just passed Marriage Equality on a vote of 25-21.

From here the Civil Marriage Protection Act goes to the more Democratic leaning House of Delegates.  Governor Martin O'Malley has indicated he has every intention of signing this bill into law.

Maryland would become the sixth state along with the District of Columbia to have marriage equality.

Go Maryland!

Maryland Marriage Equality Bill hits the state Senate

The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, SB 116, which passed out of committee on a vote of 7-4 was introduced to the full state Senate this morning. This bill would legalize marriage equality in the state of Maryland.

State Senator Robert Garagiola introduced the measure and in doing so emphasized that religious institutions would not be required to recognize these relationships:

"Under the terms of the Act, an official of a religious institution or body who is authorized to solemnize marriages, may not be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution, or Article 36 of our Constitution. As amended, the bill also provides that a religious organization, association or society, or any nonprofit operated by one, may not be required to provide services accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request is related to the solemnization of a marriage or celebration of marriage that is in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs."

Debate is scheduled to occur Wednesday. Reports are that there are 24 votes, the necessary number, to pass the bill. From there the bill heads to the house of delegates where it's expected to pass.

Governor Martin O'Malley has indicated he will sign the bill if it reaches his desk.

Marriage Equality in Maryland moves closer

OK kids - getting close to having the happy dance today.

Just saw the good news that two more state senators in Maryland have committed to supporting marriage equality when it comes up for a vote in the state senate.

From the Baltimore Sun: Sen. Katherine Klausmeier said today that she has decided to vote in favor of same-sex marriage, putting the measure within a breath of passage in the Senate.

"I just weighed all of the options," said the Baltimore County Democrat, who earlier told The Sun that she was torn about the issue. "It's about fairness."

Klausmeier becomes the second previously undeclared senator today to lend support to advocates, who plan a rally this evening. Earlier, Sen. Edward Kasemeyer said he has decided to back it.

Sen. Joan Conway has said if the numbers look like it will pass, she would possibly vote for the bill. Conway said she would not support the Senate bill if it appears to be failing. But if there are 23 "yes" votes on the board, she said, she will "pray really hard" and make her choice.

Once out of the Senate, the bill moves to the House of Delegates where chances look good.

If you'd like to reach out to Sen. Conway here's the email address: joan.carter.conway@senate.state.md.us

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown on Marriage Equality

How great is this guy? Maryland is lucky to have an elected official who is so fair-minded, clear thinking and articulate.

I'm a fan of Thomas Roberts, too. Good solid anchor and reporter. He always seems to know his stuff. A real pro.

Maryland: 6 Hours of Senate Testimony on Marriage Equality

The Maryland State Senate heard over 6 hours of testimony in support and opposition to the proposed marriage equality bill working it's way through the Maryland State legislature.

From the MetroWeekly: "At the hearing, which began about 1 p.m. and lasted into the evening, Senate president Thomas Miller (D-Calvert, Prince George's) spoke with optimism about the bill's chances for success. Miller declared then that he predicts about a 70 percent chance that the bill will pass the Senate's chambers, adding that a Senate vote is expected next week. The Senate's Clerk Office reported that votes on such matters usually occur on Wednesdays, which would be Feb. 16."

On the opposition side, National Organization for Marriage's Maggie Gallagher, in underestimating the compassion and common sense of equal rights, testified about what she said SB 116 would do to the "public understanding of marriage."

What always amazes me about the opposition to marriage equality is the often repeated argument that marriage is only about procreation and raising children, and yet many heterosexual marriages have no children. I always wonder would Maggie Gallagher invalidate a marriage if no children were produced? Many senior citizens marry later in life, at a point when child rearing is out of the picture. Yet I never see Maggie opposed those marriages.

Also, there is a very weak argument that marriage is about the Bible and religion. And yet, in the Bible women were also considered "property." Society evolved. 200 years ago, in this country, African-Americans were slaves and considered 3/5 of a human being. Society evolved. 100 years ago in this country, women didn't have a voice in government or the right to vote. Society evolved. 50 years ago inter-racial marriage was against the law in many states. Society evolved.

For a marriage to be recognized in the United States, you are required to have a legal marriage license issued by a CIVIL government. This is why opponents are wrong when they try to say their opposition isn't about civil rights. As long as a marriage license is issued by a CIVIL government, marriage is a civil rights issue. The church doesn't extend hospital visitation rights, tax inheritance rights, social security survivorship rights - the civil government does. And as long as those rights are attainable by one group and not another, this is clearly a civil rights issue.

I personally have no desire to re-define a religion or it's beliefs. I don't want to see any law force a church to do anything against it's will. But I do think, as long as the government is involved in issuing civil rights attached to a form of partnership, we should have equality for all. These rights should be available to everyone.

One last thing - some opponents argue that gay men have the same right to marry whatever woman they want, just like straight men. I'd like to ask those people: "would you like your sister to marry a gay man? Is that the solution you think would solve problems?"



UPDATE: According to the Baltimore Sun: "Baltimore County Sen. James Brochin found the testimony Tuesday by opponents of gay marriage “troubling,” and said this morning that he may support the bill. The Baltimore County Democrat had previously said he was against same-sex marriage."

“The demonization of gay families really bothered me,” Brochin said. “Are these families going to continue to be treated by the law as second class citizens?”

Testimony of Marriage Equality continues in Maryland

The following is from HRC’s Regional Field Director Sultan Shakir:

"After three hours of testimony, supporters of marriage equality are going strong, testifying about the many reasons that loving and committed couples should have access to marriage equality."

"One couple, Stacy and Barbara, spoke about the need to protect their family, which includes their 10 month old son. Stacy and Barbara spoke about the need to protect themselves and their son through the institution of marriage. They spoke about their love and commitment and how they hope that the state in which they live will honor their love and commitment by allowing them to raise their family under the protections of the law."

Maryland: Marriage Equality headed to Senate this week

The issue of marriage equality heads to the Maryland State Senate this week, as the Judicial Hearings Committee takes up a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.

Last week the movement picked up steam as the leading Republican Senator Allan Kittleman said he would support the bill. He had originally meant to submit his own bill for Civil Unions but found no support there. In supporting marriage equality, he stepped down from the position of Minority Leader in the state senate.

At present count, there are 20 state senators who have indicated they will vote to support marriage equality. 6 Democratic senators have not indicated where they stand just yet.

Among the undecideds, Sen. Joan Carter Conway said she is willing to be the 24th vote for the bill but does not want to vote for it if it is going to fail. Sen. Ulysses Currie put his chances of voting for the bill at 40 percent. And Sen. James Rosapepe said he will announce his intentions before the bill reaches the floor.

Anyone who lives in the following districts should call their state senator and let them you know you want to see equality in the state of Maryland.

Senators who said in interviews that they are undecided (6):
Sen. John C. Astle (D-Anne Arundel)
Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore)
Sen. Ulysses Currie (D-Prince George's)
Sen. Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Baltimore County)
Sen. Katherine A. Klausmeier (D-Baltimore County)
Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George's)

Maryland Lt. Gov. Supports Marriage Equality

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown told the Washington Blade Wednesday that he supports marriage equality for lesbians and gays and favors the approval of a same-sex marriage bill pending in the Maryland Legislature.

"I have always believed that all Marylanders should have an equality of rights and responsibilities and that includes marriage equality,” he said to the Washington Blade.

“So regardless of gender, we should be able to choose who it is that we are going to marry and hopefully spend the rest of our lives with. And so I’m supportive of that,” he said.

Brown said he has friends and acquaintances who are in same-sex relationships and he has seen first-hand how they are “successfully raising children,” a development that has helped shape his views on the marriage issue.

The Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley has said in previous statements that he intends to sign marriage equality legislation should it reach his desk.

Maryland GOP State Senator to support Marriage Equality

In an inspiring moment of clarity on behalf of Senate Minority Leader Allan H. Kittleman, he has announced his plans to support marriage equality in Maryland.

Kittleman had originally meant to present a bill to create civil unions in Maryland. But finding no support for that bill among his GOP colleagues, he found himself in a position of having to choose between his conscience or politics. His conscience won out.

"Consequently, with the civil union legislation no longer being a viable option, I was put in the position of deciding whether to support same-sex marriage or voting to continue the prohibition against same-sex marriage. As a strong proponent of personal and economic liberty/freedom, I simply could not, in good conscience, vote against SB 116."

"First, let me state that I am a strong follower of Jesus Christ. I worked in youth ministries for many years. However, while my faith may teach that marriage is between a man and a woman, our government is not a theocracy. As the state senator from District 9, I represent everyone in my district, regardless of their faith."