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RI: Marriage Equality Bill Introduced in House

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Rhode Island Marriage Equality BillA marriage equality bill was among the three LGBT rights measures that state lawmakers introduced on Thursday.State Rep. Art Handy (D-Cranston) and state Sen. Rhoda Perry (D-Providence) introduced the Equal Access to Marriage Act in the House of Representatives.

A marriage equality bill was introduced last year, but gay House Speaker Gordon Fox (D-Providence) withdrew it after he said there were not enough votes for it to pass. Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Newport) opposes marriage for same-sex couples. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

Fox instead backed supported a civil union bill that lawmakers passed last June. Governor Lincoln Chafee signed the measure into law in July.

Full Story from Edge Boston

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MD: House Delegate Sam Arora Betrays the Gay Community… Again

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Sam AroraIn the wake of what’s being viewed as a betrayal, Democrats and the gays are setting their sights on Maryland Democratic House Delegate Sam Arora.

In yesterday’s closely contested vote on marriage equality in Maryland, things came right down to the wire. 71 votes were needed for passage and 71 votes were received thanks to constituents voicing their stance on the issue and high profile figures like, former Vice President Dick Cheney and President Bill Clinton making direct calls to delegates on the fence.

Which delegate received a call, but still ended up on the wrong side of history? Sam Arora. Why is this such an issue? It’s not simply because he’s a Democrat. It goes beyond that. Arora campaigned as a progressive candidate and openly stated while campaigning that he was a supporter of same-sex civil marriage. This resulted in support–including financial support–from the LGBT community and marriage equality advocates. Gays and those that support equal rights, including groups like Equality Maryland, endorsed Delegate Arora because he claimed to be with us and for us.

Full Story from Instinct Magazine

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MD: House Passes Marriage Equality 71-67

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality Bill PassedWhat a week for marriage equality. Following signing of the law in Washington Monday, then a decisive vote for same-sex marriage in the New Jersey legislature Thursday, lawmakers in the Maryland House voted today in favor of marriage equality in their state for the first time.

Nearly a year ago, the House voted to shelve a marriage bill by sending the legislation back to committee — this after it became clear that supporters simply did not have enough votes. But the Senate passed the bill and is expected to do so again this year. Gov. Martin O’Malley has pushed for the law and pledged to sign it. “Today, the House of Delegates voted for human dignity,” he said in a statement after the vote.

The Maryland House of Delegates needed 71 votes to pass the bill. Whether the chamber had the requisite votes was a matter of much speculation just hours before the vote. Pro-marriage equality lawmakers Thursday had to delay consideration of the legislation until today, when it passed 71 to 67 as cheers erupted from the gallery and on the floor.

Full Story from The Advocate

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MD: Marriage Equality Vote in House Delayed Until Friday

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillThe Maryland House of Delegates voted Thursday evening to again delay a proposal to legalize gay marriage. After adding a single amendment to the bill, lawmakers decided to wait until Friday to further debate the measure. The bill was first introduced and “laid over” Wednesday.

The amendment, which extends the effective date of the bill from October to January 2013, was offered by Del. Wade Kach, R-Baltimore, who said earlier in the day that his support of the bill was contingent on the body’s acceptance of his proposal.

Kach believes that the change would provide more time to bring a referendum on the bill. “I want the referendum,” he said. “I want the people to have the opportunity to petition the bill to referendum, because I think it’s such an important decision for all Marylanders to make, not just the 188 legislators.”

Full Story from the Herald-Mail

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MD: Marriage Equality Advocates Looking for Final Votes in House

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillAs debate was set to begin in the Maryland House of Delegates, gay marriage advocates were still looking to lock down a couple key votes.

The 71 votes needed to pass the measure still hung in the balance Wednesday afternoon, less than a day before the chamber is expected to begin talking about the bill, said Carrie Evans, executive director for the gay rights organization Equality Maryland.

“There are people we’ve been working with all along who are still making up their minds,” she said.

Full Story from The Washington Post

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MD: House Short on Votes for Marriage Equality?

Monday, February 13th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillIn search of the votes to solidify the legalization of gay marriage, advocates rallied Monday night hoping to sway delegates who have not yet committed their support.

Gov. Martin O’Malley, who spoke to the crowd of hundreds, said he still needs to collect the votes of “a couple” of lawmakers in order to move the bill through the House of Delegates.

“We need a couple more votes and people always make their decisions against deadlines,” O’Malley told reporters after the rally. “The bill has been heard in the House and is likely to move.”

Full Story from The Washington Post

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MD: House Holds Hearing on Marriage Equality Bill

Saturday, February 11th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillMaryland Gov. Martin O’Malley remained firm in his support for a bill to legalize same-sex marriage Friday during a contentious joint hearing on the bill before two committees of the state’s House of Delegates.

After O’Malley and two prominent black ministers testified in support of the bill, the three were grilled with questions by two of the bill’s strongest opponents, Del. Don Dwyer (R-Anne Arundel County) and Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington County).

The two delegates disputed O’Malley’s claim that the bill would protect the religious rights of those who say same-sex marriage conflicts with their faith and asked the governor to support new language in the bill that would clear it for an immediate voter referendum.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

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WA: Quotes From House Marriage Equality Debate

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

“With today’s vote, we tell the nation that Washington state will no longer deny our citizens the opportunity to marry the person they love. We tell every child of same-sex couples that their family is every bit as equal and important as all other families in our state. And we take a major step toward completing a long and important journey to end discrimination based on sexual orientation.” –Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire.

“No one in this state has the right to change the definition of marriage. The bill casts aside one of the greatest cornerstones of our society, the family unit, which starts with a father and a mother.” –Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham.

“Why should their union of over 23 years not be recognized? They are committed to each other. They love each other.” –Rep. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, talking about her Democratic colleague, Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, and her partner, Laura Wulf.

Full Story from the Seattle PI

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WA: House Sends Marriage Equality Bill to Governor on 55-43 Vote

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Washington State Marriage EqualityWashington state lawmakers voted to approve gay marriage Wednesday, setting the stage for the state to become the seventh in the nation to allow same-sex couples to wed.

The action comes a day after a federal appeals court declared California’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, saying it was a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples.

The Washington House passed the bill on a 55-43 vote. The state Senate approved the measure last week. And Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the measure into law next week.

Full Story from Edge Boston

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WA: House Vote on Marriage Equality Bill Due Today

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Washington House Marriage Equality VoteThe Washington state House of Representatives was expected to endorse gay marriage on Wednesday in a vote that would move the state another step closer to becoming the seventh to recognize same-sex nuptials.

Floor debate was scheduled to begin in the afternoon, with supporters and opponents predicting the measure would win House passage by at least as comfortable a margin as it took to clear the Senate, on a 28-21 vote, a week ago.

Democrats, accounting for the lion’s share of support for the bill, control both legislative bodies but enjoy a bigger majority in the House. Proponents were hoping to stave off any 11th-hour House floor amendments that would force the bill back to the Senate for final passage and thus slow its momentum.

Full Story from Reuters

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