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MD: State Senator: 60-80% Chance for Marriage Equality in Early 2011

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Maryland Senator Richard MaldalenoOut Maryland state senator Richard Madaleno said he is “guardedly optimistic” that the state legislature will pass a marriage equality bill in early 2011.

In an interview with Gay Politics, Madaleno put chances in the “six, seven eight range” on a scale of one to 10 for the bill’s passage in the next 90-day session from January to mid-April of next year.

“His optimism stems from a number of developments on Election Day 2010, some of which ran absolutely counter to national trends,” reported Gay Politics. “In the Maryland Senate, Democrats actually expanded their majority to a 35-12
advantage over Republicans.”

Full Story from The Advocate

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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MD: Governor Says He Would Sign Marriage Equality Bill

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

A federal judge’s ruling that overturned California’s Proposition 8 on Wednesday has prompted Marylanders to prepare for similar legal battles.

Gov. Martin O’Malley’s press office and his campaign said Monday that the governor would sign a same-sex marriage bill if one is passed by the Maryland General Assembly. This is the first time the governor office has said O’Malley would do so.

O’Malley’s likely Republican challenger, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, has said he believes marriage should be between one man and one woman. Ehrlich said he would not sign such a bill.

Full Story from WBAL

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

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MD: NOM Rally Draws 25 People; Police Throw Courage Campaign Videographer Out

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

NOM Rally Annapolis MarylandJust a few minutes ago (shortly before 1 p.m. ET), Brian Brown had police officers remove the Courage Campaign’s NOM Tour Tracker videographer from the Maryland NOM rally – or risk arrest.

We were told that all counter-protesters must remain across the street. When I explained to the officers – who became enraged as I started videotaping his explanation – that we were not counter-protesters, that we had no signs, were leading no chants and were merely documenting the rally, they said that it didn’t matter.

Maybe Brown is concerned about our work documenting the rally because, yet again, the turnout today for the NOM rally in Annapolis was extremely low (about 25 people, including staff, but I’ll get a hand-count out later), even lower than previous events on NOM’s “Summer for Marriage: One Man, One Woman” tour. Stay tuned. . . we’ve got film of our videographer being removed from the rally coming soon.

Full Story from the Prop 8 Trial Tracker

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: Annapolis Extends Benefits to Partners of Gay/Lesbian City Employees

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Mayor Josh Cohen has extended employment benefits to the same-sex partners of Annapolis’ workers, giving them access to medical plans. Under the new city rules taking effect July 1, the same-sex partners of city employees can enroll in city-offered medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits. Those benefits do not extend to unmarried heterosexual couples.

Only same-sex partners are eligible for the domestic partnership benefit option because they don’t have the ability to marry in Maryland. The city’s policy comes months after state employees and retirees and their same-sex domestic partners were allowed to enroll in benefit programs.

“This is very exciting and it’s a move in the right direction towards equality in Maryland. And it’s appropriate because it’s the seat of our government,” said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director for Equality Maryland, an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Marylanders.

Full Story from the SF Examiner

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: Governor Says State Isn’t Ready for Gay Marriage

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Now that was pretty bold – the governor apparently hasn’t seen polls showing more Marylanders support marriage equality than oppose it. Perhaps his personal issues with it got in the way as he was dunking for gay dollars at a one of those conferences you aren’t privy to. You know, where the real business happens. Four governors attended the Political OutGiving conference, run by the Gill Action Fund. Apparently some of the folks with access have also had enough of being the gAyTM and breached the secrecy agreement to hang O’Malley out to dry. (Washington Blade):

A controversial appearance by Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley prompted participants in a closed-door conference of wealthy LGBT political donors, held May 15-16 in Chicago, to breach a strict a confidentiality policy after he told the gathering he favors civil unions over same-sex marriage.

…But several participants, speaking on condition that they not be identified, ignored the warnings and informed the Washington Blade about an exchange between O’Malley and Julie Goodridge, the lesbian plaintiff in the Massachusetts lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage in that state.

Full Story from Pam’s House Blend

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: Support Increases for Marriage Equality

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

It may be a small victory for same-sex couples across Maryland. A new poll shows that more and more Marylanders now support allowing those couples to get married.

In a new Washington Post poll released on Tuesday, 46 percent of Marylanders said they favor legalizing gay marriage while 44 percent are opposed.

These numbers have shifted over the last few years. In 2007, the same Washington Post poll found that only 44 percent favored gay marriage, while 51 percent were opposed.

Full Story from NBC Washington

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: GOP Tries to Block Out of State Marriage Recognition a Third Time, Fails

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

The third time was not the charm for Maryland Delegate Don Dwyer’s ongoing attempt to end gay marriage recognition in Maryland. On the House floor Friday, the Republican lawmaker offered an amendment that would forbid the state from recognizing gay marriages performed outside its borders to a bill that would boost the cost of a marriage license in Baltimore.

An opinion by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler released in February directs state agencies to recognize out-of-state legal gay marriages over the objections of a state law that bans such unions. The opinion arrived a week before a gay marriage law took effect on March 3 in neighboring District of Columbia. Governor Martin O’Malley has endorsed the opinion, saying it’s “sound advice.”

Dwyer’s amendment would reverse Gansler’s opinion. House Parliamentarian and Delegate Kathleen Dumais called the amendment unconstitutional and in violation of the single-subject rule.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: GOP Effort to Impeach AG after Gay Marriage Decision Fails

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

A House of Delegates committee rejected Wednesday a Republican lawmaker’s attempt to impeach Maryland’s attorney general over an opinion he issued recently on same-sex marriage.

Del. Don H. Dwyer Jr. of Anne Arundel County had asked fellow delegates to initiate the impeachment process for Douglas F. Gansler, a Democrat, who said Maryland should recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. Dwyer says Gansler’s opinion wrongly overturned state policy on such unions.

The House Judiciary Committee rejected Dwyer’s effort, voting 15-5 that Gansler’s conduct did not merit impeachment proceedings. Del. Susan McComas, a Harford County Republican, joined the Democrats on the committee in opposing impeachment. The chairman abstained from voting, and one member was absent.

Full Story from the Baltimore Sun

Click here for gay marriage resources in Maryland.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

MD: Hearing 3 PM on Possible Impeachment of AG Doug Gansler

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

Just received this from Equality Maryland:

Dear Friends,

I’m writing to you from Annapolis with a quick update on Delegate Don Dwyer’s attempt to impeach Attorney General Doug Gansler.

As you know, Attorney General Gansler’s office released an opinion back in February indicating that state agencies should begin recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. In response, anti-equality lawmakers have tried every legislative maneuver possible to counter the attorney general’s legally sound opinion. Thanks to your support and the dedication of our legislative allies, we have been able to successfully stop all of these attacks.

But sound legal advice and sheer common sense did not stop Delegate Don Dwyer from attempting to impeach the Attorney General over his legal opinion today on the floor of the House of Delegates. His resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee will be holding a hearing this afternoon at 3:00 in the Lowe House Office Building, Room 100 – please consider joining us if you are able to get to Annapolis.

Delegate Don Dwyer’s circus today should have no place in any statehouse – let alone in Annapolis. You can help show Delegate Dwyer the door and other homophobic lawmakers come this November by supporting the Equality Maryland Political Action Committee (PAC). Your contribution to the PAC will provide Equality Maryland with the necessary resources to wage a pro-equality campaign in the upcoming state-wide elections. Click here to make your donation and stand with us in our efforts to elect fair minded lawmakers.

Only 11 days remain in the 2010 General Assembly session. Rest assured our team will continue to do all that we can to ensure that the Attorney General’s opinion is upheld and that pro-equality legislation advances, but we cannot do it without your support.

Please consider making a difference today by helping us kick Delegate Don Dwyer and his friends out through the voting booth come November!

Yours in Equality,

Morgan Meneses-Sheets
Executive Director

P.S. At the close of session on April 12th, we will have less than six months to really make a difference in the 2010 state-wide elections. Please, be generous in your donations to our political action committee. You can donate online by clicking here or send a check to 1201 Sharp Street, Suite 109, Baltimore, Maryland, 21230.

MD: GOP Lawmaker Tries to Impeach AG Over Marriage Equality Opinion

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010

One Maryland politician is willing to jeopardize his own political career to end Attorney General Doug Gansler’s. Republican Don Dwyer said he plans on moving to impeach Gansler over his opinion on recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. The Maryland General Assembly’s counsel said the House of Delegates doesn’t have the jurisdiction to impeach an attorney general; that means Dwyer’s efforts could result in his own removal from the chamber. Dwyer said that’s fine with him.

Gansler declared last month that Maryland will recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere in the country. His 50-page opinion states that a marriage that is valid in the place of celebration remains valid in Maryland.

Gansler’s decision does not actually change the law, and he has said that he expects the state’s highest court to offer a final verdict on the marriages.

Full Story from NBC Washington

Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.