Maryland Voters Now Favor Same Sex Marriage

Here's some good news from Out Loud News in Maryland.  I've condensed the story:

A Washington Post poll released on May 11 shows that same-sex marriage is gaining among Maryland voters.  The poll, conducted May 3-6, finds that 46 percent overall favor legal same-sex marriage, 44 percent oppose it, and 10 percent have no opinion. Among registered voters, 48 percent are in favor and 43 percent are opposed, according to the Post.  By contrast, in late 2007, an identical Post poll question found 44 percent in favor overall and 51 percent opposed.

The margin widens when it comes to recognition of out-of-state marriages involving gay and lesbian couples.  By a margin of 55 percent to 38 percent, Marylanders approve such recognition. In response to these numbers, Equality Maryland executive director, Morgan Meneses-Sheets said, "The new polling data released by the Washington Post is a huge, public step forward for marriage equality in Maryland." She continued, "As the article indicates, a clear majority consensus is building across the state, not just in support of out-of-state same-sex marriage recognition, but for full marriage equality for lgbt couples."

The Post poll indicates "a notable dip in opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage among African-Americans since the last Post poll. Blacks in Maryland are now nearly equally divided over the issue."

Maryland Attorney General rules that state may acknowledge same-sex marriages

According to The Baltimore Sun, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler released a long-awaited opinion yesterday stating that Maryland must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.  The ruling did not deal with the issue of whether or not same-sex marriages could take place in Maryland.  While at first there was some confusion about whether or not the ruling had the force of law, Gansler later clarified that the recognition of same-sex marriages should begin immediately.  

One Republican was so angered by the ruling that he has called for the Attorney General's impeachment.  Some opponents of same-sex marriage are concerned that Maryland couples will simply marry in nearby Washington DC, where same-sex marriage is set to begin next month, then return to their home state.  One such opponent, State Senator Norman Stone, said that if people "strongly believe in same-sex marriages, they should go live in those states" that allow it.  Said another, "It is going to end up on referendum, and I am going to win,"

For their part, supporters of same-sex marriage hope to pass a bill that would make performing same-sex marriage legal in Maryland.

A minor victory is still a victory

Gayagenda.com (and a number of other sites and publications) is reporting that a proposal to declare same-sex marriages illegal in Maryand has been rejected.  According to the site:

Same-sex marriage is currently not legal in Maryland, but the proposal was considered to be a pre-emptive strike or pro-active measure against the legal opinion of state Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler that same-sex marriages which occur in states where they are legal be recognized in Maryland

Burns stated his concern stems from the growing number of nearby states and Washington D.C. who have legalized same-sex marriage and felt it necessary for Maryland to close what he referred to as a legal loophole, which could possibly lead to full legalization of same-sex marriage in the state

However, the House of Delegates Judiciary Committee voted 12-8 to toss the measure which essentially killed the bill.

So for now, at least, if you are an LGBT couple married in one of the few states that will marry you, Maryland will recognize your union.

What about Maryland? Could it be next?

Here's an abridged version of a blog entry from  http://gayrights.change.org.


With Washington, D.C. moving forward to recognize same-sex marriage, a lot of eyes are starting to wander over to its neighbor to the north, Maryland. There, the state's attorney general has a pretty big decision to make that could affect a whole bunch of same-sex couples.

Attorney General Douglas Gansler (left)  has to decide whether Maryland can recognize legal gay marriages that are performed out of state. Or, in other words, will two men or two women who tie the knot in D.C. still be legally married when they go shop for furniture at the IKEA in College Park, Maryland?

The Baltimore Sun has some very curt words for Atty. Gen. Gansler, urging Gansler to move his ass on the issue of marriage equality. "...the issue of gay marriage is now at Maryland's doorstep, and it increases the urgency for Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler to rule on whether the state is permitted to recognize same-sex marriages from other states," writes Sun blogger Andy Green. "It's hard to conceive of what, exactly, is taking Mr. Gansler so long."

That's a very good question. Sure, when it comes to state law, you want to make sure you have your i's dotted and your t's crossed. But a six-month delay in answering whether legal gay marriages committed in places like Massachusetts, Iowa, and soon-to-be D.C., are legal?