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MD: County Commissioner Calls Marriage Equality a “Vote Against Children”

Saturday, February 4th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillCarroll County Commissioner Robin Frazier, R-District 1, this week announced the Board’s proclamation of Feb. 7-14 as “marriage week,” recognizing marriage as an institution that “binds men and women together in a network of mutual aid and mutual obligation,” according to the document signed by the five commissioners.

This is the second year that the board has adopted such a proclamation. The document is part of an international marriage week movement led by National Marriage Week USA and other organizations in 16 countries.

The purpose of the movement is to recognize and promote marriage, understanding, according to the organization’s website, that “social science is clear that children are best served when they grow up with both a mother and father.”

Full Story from Patch.com

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MD: State Bar Endorses Marriage Equality

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Maryland State Bar and Marriage EqualityThe Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), the state’s largest legal professional organization, voted by an overwhelming majority on Jan. 26 to endorse the proposed Civil Marriage Protection Act (Senate Bill 241), which, if passed into law, would grant same-sex couples the right to legally marry in Maryland.

The bill went before the State Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on Jan. 31.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

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MD: Home-Schooled 14-Year-Old Asks Senate to Vote No on Marriage Equality

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillMaryland’s Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee heard testimony this afternoon on the marriage equality bill pending there. Among those testifying was a 14-year-old girl named Sarah Crank.

Said Sarah:

“Today is my 14th birthday and it would be the best birthday present ever if you would vote NO on gay marriage. I really feel bad for the kids who have two parents of the same gender.

“Even though some kids think it’s fine, they have no idea what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on. I don’t want more kids to get confused about what’s right and okay. I really don’t want to grow up in a world where marriage isn’t such a special thing anymore.”

Full Story from Towleroad

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MD: Marriage Equality Hearing Covers Gay Rights, Religious Freedom

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality HearingDozens of activists from both sides of the gay marriage debate packed a state Senate committee hearing Tuesday to make arguments about civil liberties, equal rights and protections for children.

The Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing marked this year’s first public debate on legislation to legalize same-sex unions, a measure introduced by Gov. Martin O’Malley last week.

O’Malley, a Democrat, argued that the bill will grant necessary legal and financial protections for children of gay couples, giving them parity with children of heterosexual, married couples.

Full Story from The Washington Post

Click here for gay wedding resources in Maryland.

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Maryland: Marriage Equality Hearing in State Senate Tuesday

Monday, January 30th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillThe Maryland Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee will hold its first hearing on the Civil Marriage Protection Act tomorrow at 1 p.m. but LGBT supporters will be at work hours before the testimony begins.

Marylanders for Marriage Equality has announced a 9:30 a.m. rally for supportive clergy at the Maryland Inn (16 Church Circle) in Annapolis.

The hearing comes a day after the Washington Post released the results of a poll of Maryland voters finding 50 percent in favor of same-sex marriage and 44 percent opposed.

Full Story from The Washington Blade

Click here for gay wedding resources in Maryland.

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MD: Does New Marriage Equality Bill Strike Balance Between Gay and Religious Rights?

Sunday, January 29th, 2012

Gay Rights vs. Religious Freedom in MarylandLAST YEAR, a last-minute blitz by some conservative and African American lawmakers derailed proposed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.

Some critics rejected a definition of marriage as anything but the union of one man and one woman; others were concerned that religious groups might be forced to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies that violate their religious beliefs. There may be little that can be done to convince the first group that providing marriage equality to same-sex couples is the right and moral thing to do. There are, however, significant protections that should be extended to religious organizations even as the state provides its gay and lesbian residents the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.

A bill introduced last week by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) does an admirable job of meeting both of these legitimate needs. While not immune from all civilian proscriptions, religious organizations must be given wide latitude even when their actions could be deemed biased. The Supreme Court recently affirmed the right of religious organizations to be free from secular mandates that unduly interfere with religious freedom.

Full Story from The Washington Post

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MD: Governor’s Wife Calls Marriage Equality Foes Cowards

Friday, January 27th, 2012

Maryland’s first lady Katie O’Malley is behind her husband’s push for the legalization of same-sex marriages in the state and she’s not afraid to let everyone know how she feels.

Speaking Thursday at the 24th annual Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality, the first lady threw some mud at the lawmakers that prevented a legalization of same-sex marriage bill from getting passed last year in the Maryland House of Delegates.

“There were some cowards that prevented it from passing,” she said at the conference.

Full Story From NBC Washingtoin

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MD: Governor O’Malley’s Remarks on Marriage Equality Bill

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillI want to thank all of you for being here this morning. There is a broad coalition. Many of its members are arrayed on the steps here with me. And they are all supportive of the bill that was introduced last night on civil marriage equality in the state of Maryland.

All of us want the same thing for our children. Marylanders of different religious beliefs, Marylanders of all walks of life all want the same things for our children. We want our children to live in loving, stable committed households that are protected equally under the law.

We also believe that we can protect religious freedom and rights equally under the law. Other states have found a way to do this. We can find a way to do this too. And that common ground that allows us to move forward is dignity, the human dignity of every single person.

Full Story From the Washington Blade

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MD: Marriage Equality Bill Includes Strong Religious Protections

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Maryland Marriage Equality BillThe new same-sex marriage bill introduced yesterday by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-MD) in the Maryland Senate includes additional protections for religious institutions that were not part of last year’s failed measure, the Baltimore Sun reports. The so-called Civil Marriage Protection Act includes four changes:

“It is now stated that religious leaders, as well as their institutions, are protected from lawsuits; that the state can’t withhold funds to penalize a religious institution that does not recognize same-sex marriages; and that the state can’t dictate religious doctrine. There also is an attempt to clarify that some programs run by religious institutions can exclude same-sex couples.”

Full Story from Think Progress

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MD: Governor O’Malley Submits Marriage Equality Bill

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced his legislative agenda Monday for the 2012 General Assembly that includes proposed bills to implement offshore wind energy, limit septic tanks and legalize same-sex marriage.

Mr. O’Malley, a Democrat, officially submitted the bills to the House and Senate on Monday night. Last week, he submitted a proposed budget that included several tax hikes and $3.6 billion in capital-project spending to improve infrastructure and create jobs.

The governor’s offshore wind, septic and gay-marriage proposals are all second incarnations of bills that failed in last year’s Assembly but will be touted again by the governor during the current 90-day session. “This session, our legislative agenda will help us create jobs for Maryland families, protect the quality of life for all Marylanders and continue our push for a more sustainable future,” Mr. O’Malley said.

Full Story from The Washington Times

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