Voice for Equality: Doug Gansler

Doug Gansler is a Maryland politician and Attorney General of Maryland, having beaten Republican Scott Rolle in the general election on November 7, 2006. Gansler served as the State's Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland from January 1999 until January 2, 2007. Prior to that, Gansler was an assistant United States Attorney from 1992 to 1998, and a member of the law firms of Coburn & Schertler and Howrey & Simon. Since his election to Attorney General, Mr. Gansler has been elected as the national Co-Chair for the Democratic Attorneys General Association. Learn more here.

In the Civil Rights arena, Mr. Gansler, who created the first Attorney General Civil Rights Division, has received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Keeper’s Award and also the Ally for Equality Award for being the first statewide elected official in Maryland to support marriage equality. On February 12, 2009, Doug Gansler endorsed gay marriage legislation, but said lawmakers lacked the “political courage” to pass the controversial measure. He instead predicted that lawmakers would approve a more moderate civil union bill that grants homosexual couples fewer benefits and protections:

“It’s wrong to discriminate against people, particularly because they think differently or because of their sexuality or because of their gender,” Gansler said. “And that’s what we’re doing here.” [Link]

Freedom to Marry salutes Doug Gansler as a Voice for Equality!

If you're inspired by Mr. Gansler's support...take action! Link to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality to find out how you can help with the vital work of preserving marriage equality in Maine!

**Make your NOMINATION for a Voice for Equality today!