Thursday, March 28, 2013
Marriage equality supporters turned out in droves Wednesday as the court heard arguments on the law's constitutionality.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 28
By Lauren Kirkwood and Anamika Roy, Capital News Service Chants calling for equality rang out across the front steps of the Supreme Court Wednesday, as marriage equality supporters gathered to wave American flags and carry colorful signs while the court inside heard a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. Music blared over loudspeakers, and at one point the crowd began singing the national anthem. Many carried signs with messages like, “Sexuality is genetic, bigotry is a lifestyle," and “Don’t make me choose between my love for my wife & my love for my country.” Wednesday marked the second day of demonstrations outside the court on same-sex marriage issues—supporters also gathered Tuesday in opposition to Proposition 8, which bans gay …
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 …
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 …
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Licenses have been available since December 6.
- GOVERNMENT
- Ben Gross
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
Did you know? The Montgomery County Marriage License Office has been accepting applications for same-sex marriage since Dec. 6. Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a proclamation enabling Maryland courthouses to issue the licenses last week 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. the first day it was legal to apply. However, those eager to wed at the courthouse in Rockville …
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, …
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 …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Ruling stems from divorce case filed by a couple married in California in 2008.
Same-sex marriages legally performed out of state must be recognized by Maryland Courts, according to a decision issued Friday by Maryland’s highest court. “Maryland courts will withhold recognition of a valid foreign marriage only if that marriage is ‘repugnant’ to State public policy,” wrote Court of Appeals Judge Glenn Harrell Jr. in the 7-0 decision. The case stems from a 2010 divorce case filed in Prince George's County. Two women, Jessica Port and Virginia Cowan, were married in October 2008 in California. Eight months later, the couple separated and ultimately filed for divorce in July 2010. The judge in that case ruled that recognizing “the alleged marriage would be contrary to the public policy of Maryland” and declared it not …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
In an interview on ABC News, the president says he supports same-sex marriage. The issue is likely to go to referendum in Maryland this fall.
President Barack Obama picked the day after a decisive vote in North Carolina to announce that his "evolution" on the issue of same-sex marriage was complete—he now supports it. In an interview with ABC News on Wednesday, Obama said: I have to tell you that over the course of several years, as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage—at a …
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 …
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