Equality Maryland: Lobby Day Re-Scheduled to Monday, February 22nd

Equality Maryland
February 7, 2010
Due to the record-breaking snowfall, there are concerns about the safety of supporters and possible parking and accessibility challenges. Therefore Equality Maryland lobby day has been rer-scheduled for Monday, February 22nd. All other details remain the same as in our original post. [Link]

Delay of Maryland Attorney General Criticized in Marriage Ruling

The Baltimore Sun
January 29, 2010
Maryland Republicans criticized the state's attorney general Thursday for "playing politics" with the requested opinion on whether or not Maryland will recognize the marriage certificates of gay and lesbian couples married in other states. [Link]

Freedom to Marry Advocates in Maryland Thinking Long-Term

The Baltimore Sun
January 28, 2010
Maryland advocates for the freedom to marry don't anticipate big victories in the State House this year, despite the recent adoption of more permissive laws in DC, New Hampshire and elsewhere. Instead, proponents of marriage equality are thinking long-term, launching a fundraising and lobbying effort to target state legislators who are opposed to the freedom to marry. [Link]

Maryland: Calling All Supporters of Equality!

Equality Maryland
January 25, 2010
Maryland remains one of a handful of states that has the opportunity to end marriage discrimination against same-sex couples in the near future. The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act will be re-introduced this session. Lawmakers won’t support the bill unless they are asked, and the best people to ask are the voters who live in their district – that would be you! [Link]
Equality Maryland Lobby Day
Monday, Feb. 8, 2010
4:30 - 8:00 pm
Lawyer's Mall, Annapolis Click here for details

Get involved and learn about Freedom to Marry Week here, and let us know about events planned in your area!

Editorial: With the freedom to marry soon to be legal in D.C., how will Maryland respond?

The Baltimore Sun
December 17, 2009
With marriage equality passing in Washington D.C., The Baltimore Sun editorial board urges Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler to issue an opinion on whether the state is permitted to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples married elsewhere. [Link]

Governors blast Catholic Church over funding threat

Hands Across the Potomac - WTOP
November 24, 2009
The governors of Virginia and Maryland both blasted the Catholic Church over its threat to stop providing social service programs in the District, if the city's proposed marriage equality law isn't changed. The criticism from the governors came on WTOP's Hands Across the Potomac radio program on Tuesday. [Link]

Op-Ed: D.C. Church's Threat to Pull Social Programs over Marriage Equality Goes Too Far

The Baltimore Sun
November 15, 2009
The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. went too far when it threatened the D.C. City Council last week that it would halt its social service programs in the capital if lawmakers there approve a marriage equality proposal next month. [Link]

D.C. Marriage Bill Draws Eyes Across the Region

The Washington Post
November 12, 2009
A bill that would allow marriage for gay couples in Washington, D.C., is attracting attention from both supporters and opponents of marriage equality for its potential to influence policy in other areas of the region. [Link]

Maryland lawmaker: Recognize my legal marriage

Gazette.Net
November 6, 2009
Openly lesbian Maryland Delegate Heather Mizeur has penned an op-ed calling on state officials to recognize the marriages of Maryland’s same-sex couples who are married in jurisdictions where it is legal. [Link]

Montgomery Council Throws Support Behind Equal Benefits Law

News8.net (Rockville, MD)
November 3, 2009
The Montgomery County Council has introduced the Equal Benefits Bill, which would give contractors and subcontractors working for the county who are in a union with a partner of the same sex the same benefits as county employees who are in the same type of union. [Link]

Op-Ed: Maine and Marriage

The Baltimore Sun
November 3, 2009
The Baltimore Sun editorial board writes that although it believes "recent experience in California and elsewhere should dampen [Election Day] expectations" of supporters of Maine's marriage equality law, "it would be a mistake to believe this country's movement toward equal rights for gays and lesbians is losing momentum." [Link]

Maryland Black Family Alliance (MBFA) Premieres Film: "Maryland Voices of Equality!"

Maryland Black Family Alliance
October 19, 2009
"Maryland Voices of Equality" - directed by Kalima Young of the award-winning Kubla Khan Productions - features MBFA leaders, members, straight African-American allies, elected officials, pastors, community leaders, civil rights activists, students, mothers and fathers, all standing up for fairness, justice and equality for gays and lesbians. The premiere and forum are free of charge. [Link]

Event Details:
Thursday, October 22, 2009
6:00pm - Reception 7:00 - 9:00 pm, Film Premiere and Program
Coppin State University
Moot Court Room, 509 Health and Human Services Building
2500 W. North Avenue, Baltimore, MD
DIRECTIONS: http://www.coppin.edu/CIVS/directions.aspx

Marriage Equality: Where Politics and Empathy Collide

CurrentMom
August 27, 2009
A therapist tells of meeting with her Maryland state senator to share her views about the freedom to marry and having that state senator tell her, "I've prayed about it, and I just believe that marriage is between a man and a woman." It’s the classic politician's answer - unassailable, really, as it's a statement of personal belief. [Link]

Opinion: A Marriage Like Any Other

The Washington Post
August 27, 2009
Rich Madaleno Kensington, a Democrat from the 18th District in the Maryland Senate, talks about why "achieving the freedom to marry, and removing a restriction that impedes the development of secure families, is a matter of fundamental social justice that needs vocal champions." [Link]

OPINION: Maryland Should Be a Leader on Marriage Equality

The Baltimore Sun
August 25, 2009
"One of the key things holding us back is legislative leadership in Annapolis, and that's particularly puzzling when no state legislator across the country has ever lost his or her office because of voting for marriage equality for gay Americans," says Scott Davenport, board president of Equality Maryland and Managing Director of Freedom to Marry. [Link]

We're just like you

Baltimore Sun
August 7, 2009
It's time for Maryland to recognize marriages of same-sex couples from other jurisdictions. (Link)

Maryland Delegate Saqib Ali: Marriage Equality has gone from being a niche issue to the most pressing civil rights issue of this generation

Gazette.Net
July 31, 2009
I am the first Muslim in the Maryland legislature, but I recognize that if I tried to enforce religion by law — as in a theocracy — I would be doing a disservice to both my constituents and to my religion. [Link]

Maryland Governor Open to Recognizing Out-of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples

The Washington Post
July 6, 2009
During a radio show this morning, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) suggested he was open to honoring marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states -- something he hasn't said publicly before -- with several caveats. "If a person has those rights under another state. ... I think we probably should respect those rights," O'Malley said during an appearance on WTOP radio's "Ask the Governor." O'Malley, however, also made clear that his preference remains legalizing civil unions -- and not freedom to marry -- in Maryland, and his aides labored to describe the evolving legal, legislative and political contexts in which his remarks were made. [Link]

Cynthia Nixon speaks out for equality

Washington Blade
June 5, 2009
She may be best known for playing lawyer Miranda Hobbes on “Sex and the City,” but actress Cynthia Nixon is quickly becoming known for another role — LGBT rights activist. Nixon is coming to town this weekend to receive an Out for Equality Award at Equality Maryland’s eighth annual Night Out for Equality event, to be held at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center. (Link)

Maryland Attorney General Explores Recognition of Marriages in Other States

Baltimore Sun
May 30, 2009
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is exploring whether legal marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states can be recognized in Maryland, a move that could open an avenue for legal recognition of gay and lesbian couples who have been rebuffed by the courts and legislature here. [link]