Majority of Marylanders would uphold same-sex marriage law

Fifty-two percent of respondents to a Maryland poll said they would “probably” or “definitely” vote in favor of the state’s recently-enacted same-sex marriage law should it appear on the ballot in November, while 44 percent of the 600 respondents said they would “probably” or “definintely” vote against it.

The poll was commissioned by Marylanders for Marriage Equality and conducted by Public Policy Polling.

Polls recently released by Gonzales and The Washington Post have reported the split in votes closer to 50-50. Opponents of the law are currently trying to collect the 56,000 signatures needed to put the law on the November ballot.
(source)

Maryland Governor signs marriage equality into law

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law HB 438, a bill legalizing marriage equality, in a 5 p.m. ceremony held at the State House in Annapolis Thursday evening.

Saying, "We are one Maryland," he declared, "The bill is signed," at 5:15 p.m.

O'Malley's signature makes Maryland the eighth state and ninth jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage.

Marriage equality is also legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Washington state and the District of Columbia. The Washington law also faces a referendum effort.

Opponents, led by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, the chief organization pushing to repeal the marriage equality law, have vowed to collect more than the 55,736 signatures required to force a referendum on the law onto the 2012 ballot. They are expected to meet the necessary requirements for a referendum.

If upheld by voters via a referendum, the bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

Following O’Malley’s signing of the bill, several organizations that played prominent roles in the bill’s passage issued statements celebrating a major milestone for the state's LGBT community.

"The Governor's signature today puts Maryland on the road to fairness for all families," said Joe Solmonese, president of the national LGBT organization Human Rights Campaign (HRC). "This victory was possible thanks to the hard work of so many on the ground in Maryland. Our congratulations go to Governor O’Malley and our legislative allies who were incredible leaders in this effort."
(Read more at Metro Weekly)

Maryland State Senate passes marriage equality bill

The Maryland state Senate has approved marriage equality after a Senate vote of 25-22 after a few hours of debate during which opponents attempted to add hostile amendments.. The House passed the bill last Friday.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has pledged to make Maryland the EIGHTH state with same-sex marriage.

From Gov. O'Malley: "I'd like to thank Senate President Miller for his leadership and our legislators in the Senate for their hard work and their vote today for human dignity. All children deserve the opportunity to live in a loving, caring, committed, and stable home, protected equally under the law. The common thread running through our efforts together in Maryland is the thread of human dignity; the dignity of work, the dignity of faith, the dignity of family, the dignity of every individual. Thanks to our elected leaders, clergy and faith-based leaders, community leaders, civic organizations, civil rights groups, and citizens from across our state, Maryland will now be able to protect individual civil marriage rights and religious freedom equally."


Reactions from LGBT rights organizations:

Human Rights Campaign
"We could not be more grateful to the senators who today voted to make all Maryland families stronger,” said Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Today, we took another giant step toward marriage equality becoming law – and we are in this position due to the unwavering leadership and resolve of Governor O’Malley and our legislative allies, particularly Sens. Rich Madaleno, Jamie Raskin, Rob Garagiola, and Brian Frosh.” Virtually any piece of legislation, according to Maryland law, can be subject to a referendum where voters cast a ballot supporting or opposing the legislation. Opponents of marriage equality are expected to begin obtaining the requisite signatures necessary to refer the Civil Marriage Protection Act to the general election ballot.


National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Maryland and marriage equality will certainly make a lovely couple. Maryland is the Free State, after all. To be able to share and celebrate one's love and commitment both publicly and legally is a lifelong dream for thousands of same-sex couples and their families. It’s thrilling that Maryland is poised to make this a reality by becoming the latest state to treat its families fairly. This has been a long journey of changing hearts and minds, of breaking down walls, of shining a spotlight on our common humanity. Congratulations to Equality Maryland, Marylanders for Marriage Equality and all those who have been part of the journey leading to this victory.

AFER
Today’s vote by the Maryland General Assembly shows that the momentum toward marriage equality is unstoppable. Generations of Americans will applaud Governor Martin O’Malley and the bipartisan coalition of Maryland lawmakers for joining the courts and legislatures nationwide in defending the fundamental freedom to marry for all.”

Maryland: Senate Judicial committee passes marriage equality

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted on Tuesday in favor of a gay marriage bill, moving Maryland along the path toward legalizing same-sex nuptials.

The committee voted 7 to 4 in favor of the bill - supported by Governor Martin O'Malley - and the full Senate was expected to vote later in the week.

The bill was approved last week by the House of Delegates.

Maryland House of Delegates passes marriage equality!

Lawmakers in the Maryland House voted today in favor of marriage equality in their state for the first time.

Gov. Martin O’Malley has pushed for the law and pledged to sign it.

The Maryland House of Delegates needed 71 votes to pass the bill. Whether the chamber had the requisite votes was a matter of high speculation just hours before the vote. Pro-marriage equality lawmakers on 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.

Delegate Anne Kaiser, a lesbian, said during debate of the bill that her parents had hoped she "finds someone to love." Then, "I have, and I wish to be married." Delegate Maggie McIntosh, who come out as a lesbian while serving in the House, said "We seem to be on a roll."

Maryland House of Delegates may pass marriage equality this afternoon

The Maryland House of Delegates appears poised to pass same-sex marriage legislation when it meets late Friday afternoon.

Del. Tiffany Alston, a Prince George's County Democrat who previously opposed the bill and voted against it in committee, emerged from House Speaker Michael E. Busch's office and later offered a two-part amendment.

The first part prevents the law from going into effect if there is pending court litigation. A second part of the amendment would require judges to strike down the entire law should any part of it be illegal.

"(Alston's) vote was contingent on the passing of that amendment," said O'Donnell.

The House is scheduled to return for a final vote Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Third GOP lawmaker supports Maryland marriage equality bill

On Feb. 14, Del. Bob Costa (R) voted for the bill in committee, saying, "I represent constituents and not a party."

Today, Del. Wade Kach (R) announced that he would be supporting the Civil Marriage Protection Act. Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the coalition working to pass the bill, issued a statement.

Sen. Allan Kittleman (R) was the sole Republican supporting marriage equality last year and, according to Marylanders for Marriage Equality, reaffirmed his unwavering support at a rally in Lawyer's Mall on Monday evening.

Interestingly, when Del. Sam Arora (D) campaigned for office in 2010, Equality Maryland endorsed him because he indicated support for marriage equality, and he even co-sponsored the legislation when it was first introduced last year. But when it came time to vote, Arora wavered and ultimately conceded that he opposed marriage equality and only wanted to support civil unions.

But now the question has come back around, and the stakes are high for Arora. The Maryland House of Delegates is set to begin debate on marriage equality legislation today with a vote by tomorrow, and at last count, the bill is one vote short of passage. Sam Arora could be the necessary last vote.

Will he honor his promises to his constituents? We'll know soon.

Maryland Delegate Sam Arora ducks voting on marriage equality

Via Americablog Gay: The marriage equality bill in Maryland took a big step last night by passing in the House Judiciary Committee.

However, Delegate Sam Arora, who ran as a pro-equality candidate and purports to be a progressive, is acknowledging his conversion to homophobia. Sam Arora did not vote last night on the bill.

Two years ago, when Sam Arora was a candidate for delegate in Maryland, he wanted the endorsement of Equality Maryland. He filled out the questionnaire, which we've posted below.  Arora even added an impassioned addendum. He also did an in-person interview with Equality Maryland. From every indication, he was a strong supporter of LGBT equality, including marriage. In the general election, Arora got the endorsement of Equality Maryland.

I would encourage members of the Maryland LGBT community to ask why he has disappeared on issues important to the community when he vigorously courted our support. Contact info is below.

Twitter: @Sam_Arora
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sam-Arora/334183772314
(410) 841-3528, (301) 858-3528
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3528 (toll free)
e-mail: sam.arora@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3011, (410) 841-3528, (301) 858-3528, (240) 245-0018