Thursday, April 5, 2012
Volunteers at polling places on Tuesday solicited signatures on a pledge to support the recently passed law.
In front of Robert Frost Middle School in Rockville, Sharon Vignati and Denise Woodard, armed with clipboards and pens, asked voters Tuesday evening to support an issue that wasn’t on the primary election ballot. In February, the Maryland General Assembly voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Vignati and Woodard want to make sure that stays in place. Opponents are attempting to collect 55,736 valid signatures from Maryland voters by June 30 to block the new law from taking effect on Jan. 1, The Washington Post has reported. If they get the necessary signatures, voters would be asked on the November ballot whether to repeal the law. “We’re asking people to sign a pledge that if it goes to the ballot, that they’ll vote not to let (the repeal…
Friday, March 2, 2012
With O'Malley's signature, Maryland joined seven states and the District of Columbia in legalizing same-sex marriage. But bill opponents are expected to succeed in putting the Civil Marriage Protection Act to referendum.
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Friday, March 2, 2012
By Tom McParland, Capital News Service Even as Gov. Martin O'Malley capped a major legislative victory Thursday by signing a bill that allows same-sex couples in Maryland to marry, opponents were already in the midst of a referendum process that will likely decide the law's fate. With O'Malley's signature, Maryland joined seven states and the District of Columbia in legalizing same-sex marriage. But bill opponents are expected to succeed in putting the Civil Marriage Protection Act to referendum, which has proven to be a dead-end for similar laws in other states. Supporters, though, were optimistic Thursday that public opinion is trending toward acceptance of same-sex marriage. "No matter what happens, this is a historic point, but I think…
Friday, February 17, 2012
With the state Senate expected to pass the bill, and Gov. O'Malley expected to sign it, same-sex marriage may soon be legal in Maryland.
A same-sex marriage bill passed in the Maryland House of Delegates on Friday evening. The bill received 72 votes from state delegates (a minimum of 71 votes was needed), while 67 delegates voted against the bill, The Washington Post reported. The state Senate, which voted in favor of the bill last year, is expected to pass the bill again this year, "all but assuring the measure will be sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) for his promised signature," The Post reported. The senate will likely debate the bill next week, The Baltimore Sun reported. However, "opponents are widely expected to launch a petition drive that could give Maryland voters the final say on the November ballot," The Post added. Seven other states currently allow same-sex …
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Play delves into tough issues surrounding marriage equality.
Playwright Geoffrey Naufft’s Next Fall, showing at in Bethesda, tells a story that is most topical, as states including Maryland duke it out on the issue of marriage equality. Two men fall in love, they live a life together, and then that life is interrupted by tragedy. A wildly dysfunctional family enters the picture and characters and theater-goers alike start reflecting on the big questions. The play, directed by Mark Ramont, moves seamlessly between a hospital waiting room and the back-story of two lovers—Luke (Chris Dinolfo), and Adam (Tom Story). Luke is an open-hearted, lively man, in contrast to Adam, a neurotic who sometimes comes off as just plain whiney. Nonetheless, they are a match. Unlike Adam, Luke is still far in the …
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Ervin represents Silver Spring and Takoma Park on the Montgomery County Council.
Montgomery County Councilwoman Valerie Ervin pledged her support to the effort to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland today by releasing a video with gay marriage advocates Marylanders for Marriage Equality.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Kensington senator is profiled in this month's issue of The Washingtonian.
The debate over same-sex marriage is a personal one for Sen. Rich Madaleno. The Kensington resident is Maryland's first openly gay senator, and he told The Washingtonian that discussions about equality in the Assembly often hit close to home. "As respectful and dignified as the debate on the floor was, it was still difficult to sit and listen to your life being debated," he told the magazine. "... this idea of the slippery slope to societal breakdown — even if no one is saying 'you,' you don't appreciate being told your life is leading to the downfall of American civilization — especially from people who are already on their second marriages." Madaleno is profiled in this month's issue of the magazine, and some of his colleagues say the …
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The new bill, SB 241, includes broader language that, among other guarantees, ensures that each religious entity "has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine, policy teachings, and beliefs regarding who may marry within that faith."
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
By Tom McParland, Capital News Service Gov. Martin O'Malley touted increased religious protections as he promoted a new same-sex marriage bill Tuesday that supporters hope can overcome the objections raised last year. Flanked by lawmakers, religious leaders and union members, the governor repeatedly invoked the values of equal rights and religious freedom, which, he says, the legislation protects. "Yesterday we submitted a marriage equality bill which balances equal protection of individual rights with the important protection of religious liberty and religious freedom," O'Malley said, at a press conference in front of Government House. O'Malley hosted same-sex couples at a breakfast before the announcement. Supporters of same-sex marriage…
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Mayors Jeffrey Slavin of the Town of Somerset and David Lublin of the Town of Chevy Chase are two of 80 mayors from across the country who have joined together in support of marriage equality.
Town of Chevy Chase Mayor David Lublin and Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin are two of 80 mayors from across the country who have signed on to Mayors for the Freedom to Marry, a bipartisan group that has pledged its support for marriage equality. Joining Slavin and Lublin are Mayor Peter Fosselman of Kensington and Mayor Bruce Williams of Takoma Park. So far, 80 mayors have signed up, and the group formally launched its efforts on Friday at the Conference of Mayors in Washington, DC. The group of mayors includes Republicans, Democrats and Independents, said Slavin, who was present at Friday's Conference of Mayors. The banding together of the mayors in support of marriage equality "shows that there is strong support around our …
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Religious group will advocate against the bill in the next legislative session.
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Thursday, December 1, 2011
By Jessica Talson Capital News Service TEMPLE HILLS — A number of organizations announced the creation of a new interfaith coalition on Wednesday that will oppose same-sex marriage during the 2012 legislative session in Annapolis. A bill to legalize same-sex marriage was narrowly defeated in 2011. Both sides started preparing immediately for 2012, and vowed to return more organized and with increased support. Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to take a more prominent role and will sponsor a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. But members of the Maryland Marriage Alliance believe that marriage should be defined solely as a union between one woman and one man, and that protecting traditional marriage is vital for society. "Our nation has …
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Lawmakers disagree on poll's accuracy.
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Tuesday, October 4, 2011
By Ashley M. Latta Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS — A new poll indicates that Maryland voters are evenly divided on two controversial issues: same-sex marriage and the DREAM Act, a law that allows in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants. "The poll is consistent with what we've seen in the past," said Delegate Heather Mizeur, D-Montgomery, a strong supporter of same-sex marriage. A January Gonzales poll also showed an even split among Marylanders on the issue. But Delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr., D-Baltimore County, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, strongly disagreed with the results. "I am surprised that the Gonzales poll is incorrect," Burns said, adding that he believes the percentage of people opposed to same-sex …
Corbin Dallas Multipass
11:51 am on Friday, April 6, 2012
http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB0438.htm "prohibiting an official of a religious order or body authorized to perform a marriage ceremony from being required to solemnize or officiate at a marriage or religious rite of a marriage in violation of the constitutional right to free exercise of religion" more ›