Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyApril 18th, 2008
In January I noted that Maryland was ideally situated to provide marriage equality. A poll had been taken which revealed that 58% of residents supported gay marriage or civil unions. And the Democratic Party was fully in control of all legislation.
Maryland’s legislature is predominantly Democrat with a 33 to 14 advantage in the State Senate and 103 to 36 in the House. The leaders of both chambers are Democrats, as is the Governor.
Legislation was introduced in both houses – with significant support – to bring about marriage equality. One legislator even called the bluff of those who think marriage is a religious institution, offering to have the state only provide civil unions to both heterosexual and homosexual couples.
But four months later, gay couples received nothing more than the right to tranfer property and the right to make medical and burial decisions.
The Washington Blade asks “Why”?
What happened to marriage in Maryland?
Gay activists in Maryland had high hopes for this legislative session. Marriage rights seemed, for the first time, within reach. But the session ended last week with only token pro-gay measures approved. Joshua Lynsen talks to the key players to find out what went wrong.
See Also:
Blade Asks What Happened In Maryland
Maryland Passes Limited Rights for Gay Couples
Maryland Balances Budget by Taxing Gay Widows
Maryland Senator Muse Champions Bigotry
Maryland AG Endorses Marriage Equality
Maryland Legislator Calls Anti-Gay Bluff
Maryland Introduces Bill to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage – Are Democrats Committed to Equality?
Maryland Marriage Poll
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KipEsquire
April 18th, 2008
Maryland is 23% Catholic, and also 18% Baptist.
Mystery solved.
Zeke
April 18th, 2008
The arrogance and stupidity of demanding all or nothing in spite of the fact that NO minority has been able to get the whole pie with one fell swoop; especially when you only won the right to not be thrown in jail just a very few years prior.
Vermont is an example of how we win more quicker if we take the intelligent approach rather than the unbending ideological one. They got the rights first with civil unions, the public (which was vehemently against them for the most part) came to realize that the sky didn’t fall began to realize that it was a good thing and then became increasingly comfortable with full marriage equality. Now Vermont is well on the way to passing full marriage equality with the support of the people. That has happened much quicker than we will ever get marriage equality in most other states. I have no doubt that the all or nothing push has lead to many of the amendments that ban not only marriage but also ANY form of relationship recognition. The question is: are we better off in Vermont (with the incremental approach) or in Maryland (where we have nothing but the right to visit a partner in the hospital) or some of the other states where we will probably have no relationship recognition for our lifetimes because of their amendments?
Bottom line again, I chalk it up to arrogance, “all or nothing” mentality and basic stupidity.
I also attribute it to religious and socially conservative Democrats who are indistinguishable from anti-gay Republicans when it comes to the issue of marriage equality for gays and lesbians.
Zeke
April 18th, 2008
“more quickly”
A Stitch in Haste
April 19th, 2008
“Comment Left Elsewhere” of the Day…
Another unfortunate case of confusing “Democratic” with “gay friendly” —
Phase 1:Maryland’s legislature is predominantly Democrat with a 33 to 14 advantage in the……
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