Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Defense of Marriage Act denies immigration by marriage for same-sex spouses.
While Maryland approved same-sex marriage in early November and licenses for those marriages will be available in many Maryland counties this week, the dream of marriage equality for some couples could end in separation by deportation, according to a recent Washington Post story. The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as "the legal union between a man and a woman" and effectively denies access to pension and inheritance funds as well as the legal right to immigrate via marriage. That could spell deportation for spouses in the U.S. on temporary visas. In fact, the article states that more than 36,000 couples face this possibility. Since the passage of DOMA, 10 states and the District of Columbia have legislated to allow …
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Licenses now may be obtained.
The Montgomery County Marriage License Office is accepting applications for same-sex marriages. Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a proclamation enabling Maryland courthouses to issue the licenses earlier in December so that same-sex couples could be legally wed as of Jan. 1, 2013, when the law recognizing same-sex marriage takes effect. “We got about 20 calls asking would we be taking marriage applications for same-sex marriage, so I was expecting at least 10 of them to come in," Montgomery County Circuit Court clerk Loretta Knight told The Gazette recently. Knight said one woman was at the office when they opened at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 6—the first day it was legal to apply. However, those eager to wed at the courthouse in Rockville on the first …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Numerous key laws passed in 2012 by the Maryland General Assembly take effect on Jan. 1.
Same-sex marriage, a first-in-the-nation arsenic ban for chicken feed and a law designed to protect children's credit reports are among the Maryland laws taking effect on Jan. 1. Some, including the marriage law and a Baltimore City charter amendment, were passed by voters in November. Others tweak existing rules, like renewable energy credits and car insurance. Here are the key laws you need to know about that take effect, according to a Maryland General Assembly document. Same-sex marriage: The Civil Marriage Protection Act, passed in the 2012 session, petitioned to referendum and ratified by Maryland voters in November, takes effect as scheduled on Jan. 1. Maryland was one of the first three states to ratify same-sex marriage at the …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Victors attribute the wins to Democratic Party dominance, among other factors.
Capital News Service A dominant state Democratic Party, a progressive electorate, a national trend toward socially liberal policies and the need for more revenue in tough economic times converged in Maryland to bring passage of same-sex marriage, in-state tuition for some illegal immigrants, expanded gambling and a gerrymandered political map, political observers say. All of Maryland's ballot initiatives passed on election night. "(Gov. Martin) O'Malley and the Democrats have complete control," said Blair Lee, political columnist at The Gazette newspapers. "The only (political) competition and conversation was among Democrats … the Republicans are almost now gone the way of the Whig Party in terms of influence and presence." In Maryland, …
Friday, November 9, 2012
Cake shops, wedding venues and an online wedding website are some of the Chevy Chase businesses that may benefit from the marriage-equality provision voters approved.
With voter approval of Question 6, Maryland's same-sex marriage law, some financial analysts say that Maryland’s economy could see as much as a $90 million boost, according to a recent Gazette story. Mark Yost, president of the Maryland Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, quoted research from UCLA's Williams Institute that there could be $3.6 million in sales and lodging tax revenue, and $21 million per year from wedding-related businesses. A reporter for the Baltimore Business Journal spoke with Mary Alice Yetskey, the marketing director of Duff Goldman’s Charm City Cakes, who believes that her business will see a “much busier January” than normal. The story also quotes Mark Scurti, an attorney specializing in LGBT issues at Towson’s …
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Believes gay marriage will affect the next generation.
Matt Birk, the starting center for the Baltimore Ravens and former player for the Minnesota Vikings, wrote an op-ed published this weekend in The Minneapolis Star Tribune that detailed the reasons why he is against gay marriage. In the op-ed, he wrote, “it is important to set the record straight about what the marriage debate is all about, and to clarify that not all NFL players think redefining marriage is a good thing.” Birk may have been referring to a controversy that ensued after a Maryland legislator wrote a letter to the Ravens’ ownership to silence Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the team, after he came out in support of gay marriage. Birk wrote that he believes both a mother and a father play a vital role in raising a child…
Thursday, October 11, 2012
"Chefs for Equality" event will raise funds to support the campaign to win Maryland's referendum next month on same-sex marriage.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and "Project Runway" host Tim Gunn will be among the guests of honor later this month for an event to support same-sex marriage in a referendum vote in Maryland, reports The Huffington Post. Human Rights Campaign and food columnist David Hagedorn are co-hosting the $300-a-ticket "Chefs for Equality" fundraiser Oct. 24 at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC. The event also features a special auction in which each table of eight will feast on a unique five-course menu prepared by a who's-who of DC chefs. Read more about it on The Huffington Post.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The younger you are, the more likely you are to support same-sex marriage. What does this mean for Maryland?
Based on Maryland's age distribution and a changing national attitude on same sex marriage, one could expect–surprise–a close referendum fight in November. Earlier this week, you may have read that increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage is not the result of a nationwide change of heart, but because those opposed tend to be older and are literally dying off. A study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life found that the increase of acceptance for same-sex marriage is the result of changing, aging demographics and "generational replacement," defined by Pew as "the arrival of younger, more supportive generations making up a larger share of the population." Nationally, 48 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, up from 35 …
Monday, July 23, 2012
A fundraiser held at a private home in Chevy Chase last week raised about $250,000 in support of the state's same-sex marriage law.
About one-quarter of a million dollars was raised at a fundraiser in Chevy Chase—one of the most affluent communities in the country—last Wednesday in support of the campaign to uphold Maryland's new same-sex marriage law, according to the "Maryland Politics" blog on The Washington Post. "The money was tied to a fundraiser held in the Chevy Chase home of Susie and Michael Gelman, both of whom have long been active in Democratic politics and are supporters of Gov. Martin O’Malley (D)," The Post reported. About 70 people attended the event, Kevin Nix—a spokesman for Marylanders for Marriage Equality—told The Post. "The minimum contribution to Wednesday night’s fundraiser was $500 per person. Many guests gave $5,000, $10,000 or more," …
Friday, June 15, 2012
Candidates and issues that will be on the ballot in November.
As we look ahead to November’s elections, Patch brings you the information you need to cast an informed ballot. Here's a quick look at the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. Bookmark this page for updates. THE CANDIDATES President: President Barack Obama: Maryland is a reliably Democratic state for presidential candidates. Obama held a fundraiser in Owings Mills on June 12, and campaigned in Baltimore with Gov. Martin O'Malley. He visited Towson University for a basketball game in November 2011. GOP Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney: The former Massachusetts governor visited Maryland in March. Remember the Etch A Sketch comment? That came on the day Romney visited Arbutus. In explaining how the candidate will …
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