Maryland Anti-Gay Marriage Bills Die In Committee
Maryland Anti-Gay Marriage Bills Die In Committee
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 6, 2005 4:02 pm ET
(Annapolis, Maryland) Two bills aimed at limiting marriage in Maryland to opposite-sex couples have died in committee. One bill was a proposed constitutional amendment which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The other would have prevented the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Supporters of both measures say they will reintroduce them next year.
The bills became bogged down in the House Judiciary Committee. In an agreement with opponents of the legislation, the backers of the bills agreed they would not try to force the bills to the floor, avoiding a recorded vote on the measure.
"We're not certain we had the votes to prevail on the floor in the House," said Delegate Herbert R. McMillan (R-Anne Arundel) who proposed the amendment. "We elected to continue our push next year."
"Ballot measures in other states have left the gay community feeling like our rights are up for a popular vote," said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky.
"Our friends and their families feel vulnerable, disenfranchised, outraged and full of pain and disbelief. Thank goodness the bells of fairness have rung loudly in the Free State and this amendment will not see the light of day."
The key backer of the out-of-state ban, Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore) said he intends to keep bringing back the measure until it passes.
I have brought it three times and I am not going to stop now," Burns said after his bill died in an 11-10 vote.
"It's never been that close," he said. "Last year I got nine votes and this year I have 10."
"The legislators who cosponsored or voted for these bills may claim they are 'protecting marriage', but no one's actual marriage is protected by denying children of same-sex couples the same protections as other children," said Furmansky.
"Only bad things can happen to same-sex couples and their families when they are treated as legal strangers. The experience in Massachusetts since May 2004 shows that allowing loving same-sex couples to marry has only positive consequences."
©365Gay.com 2005
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/03/030605mdBan.htm
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: March 6, 2005 4:02 pm ET
(Annapolis, Maryland) Two bills aimed at limiting marriage in Maryland to opposite-sex couples have died in committee. One bill was a proposed constitutional amendment which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. The other would have prevented the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.
Supporters of both measures say they will reintroduce them next year.
The bills became bogged down in the House Judiciary Committee. In an agreement with opponents of the legislation, the backers of the bills agreed they would not try to force the bills to the floor, avoiding a recorded vote on the measure.
"We're not certain we had the votes to prevail on the floor in the House," said Delegate Herbert R. McMillan (R-Anne Arundel) who proposed the amendment. "We elected to continue our push next year."
"Ballot measures in other states have left the gay community feeling like our rights are up for a popular vote," said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky.
"Our friends and their families feel vulnerable, disenfranchised, outraged and full of pain and disbelief. Thank goodness the bells of fairness have rung loudly in the Free State and this amendment will not see the light of day."
The key backer of the out-of-state ban, Del. Emmett C. Burns Jr. (D-Baltimore) said he intends to keep bringing back the measure until it passes.
I have brought it three times and I am not going to stop now," Burns said after his bill died in an 11-10 vote.
"It's never been that close," he said. "Last year I got nine votes and this year I have 10."
"The legislators who cosponsored or voted for these bills may claim they are 'protecting marriage', but no one's actual marriage is protected by denying children of same-sex couples the same protections as other children," said Furmansky.
"Only bad things can happen to same-sex couples and their families when they are treated as legal strangers. The experience in Massachusetts since May 2004 shows that allowing loving same-sex couples to marry has only positive consequences."
©365Gay.com 2005
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/03/030605mdBan.htm
posted by JimG at 7:08 PM
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