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 lobbyFebruary 2nd, 2011
Last month, Maryland Senate Minority Leader Allan Kittleman announced plans to sponsor a bill that would legalize civil unions. He said that he thought that marriage should only be a religious institution for all couples, gay and straight, and that the state should just recognize civil unions for everyone.
Besides being impractical (no one is voting to deny heterosexuals marriage any time soon), this angered some other Senate Republicans who oppose civil unions. Kittleman stepped down from leadership, saying that this would allow him the freedom to support goals that do not have the backing of the Republican caucus.
And it now appears that marriage is one such goal. (WaPo)
Sen. Allan H. Kittleman (R-Howard) formally announced his support Wednesday morning for legislation that would allow same-sex marriages in Maryland, saying he would vote for the bill “because of my firm belief in equal rights.”
With the announcement, Kittleman became the first — and will probably be the only — Senate Republican to back one of the most high-profile bills of the 90-day session. When the full chamber considers the bill in coming weeks, the vote is expected to be very close.
Kittleman sees this as an extension of the legacy of his father, a state senator who was a civil rights activist and president of the local NAACP chapter.
He also demonstrates that some people are capable of distinguishing between their personal faith and beliefs and the rights of citizens.
I know that some may contend that since the Bible teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman, Maryland should continue to prohibit same sex marriage. First, let me state that I am a strong follower of Jesus Christ. I worked in youth ministries for many years. However, while my faith may teach that marriage is between a man and a woman, our government is not a theocracy. As the state senator from District 9, I represent everyone in my district, regardless of their faith. Therefore, while my spiritual life is extremely important to me, it cannot be the sole basis for my decisions as a state senator.
Although Democrats have a greater than two-thirds majority, the vote is expected to be close and Kittleman’s support is much welcomed.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
“Google” is a trademark of Google Inc.
© Box Turtle Bulletin. All Rights Reserved.
Posts 
Posts via daily email:
Bruno
February 2nd, 2011
I’m very happy one Republican there at least can stand up for what’s right. Unfortunately, I feel this whole legislative vote is just a setup for another backlash at the ballot box in 2012.
jcrr
February 2nd, 2011
Bruno: i second that. The polling numbers do NOT support the assumption that the people of maryland are ready to vote for marriage. The efforts should be focused on New York and Rhode island.
Bernie
February 2nd, 2011
I love his statement there. It hit the nail on the head when he stated that, “our government is not a theocracy.” It sums it up quite nicely, especially after Peter Sprigg’s misguided op-ed piece in the Baltimore Sun yesterday.
L. Junius Brutus
February 2nd, 2011
It’s worth a try. 2012 is a presidential year, so turnout will be high. I think one of the reasons that it failed in Maine, was because it was not even during a mid-term election, and it is difficult to motivate people to sacrifice their time to protect someone that won’t affect them (the other side had plenty of motivation in hate and fear).
Timothy Kincaid
February 2nd, 2011
The latest poll showed 51% in favor of marriage and 44% opposed.
Ben in Oakland
February 2nd, 2011
If there is a referendum in Maryland, and if our side runs the same idiotic, untruthful, weak-tea, deeply closeted, eyphemistic, non-confrontational, focus group driven campaign that they did in California and maine, then we will lose yet another one.
And we will deserve it.
TampaZeke
February 2nd, 2011
That’s all the Log Cabin Republicans need to claim that Republicans were almost single handedly responsible for passing marriage equality in MD. Expect a big press release from them immediately after the Governor signs the bill. They do it every rare time a single Republican supports a gay rights law.
GOProud would do the same thing but they don’t support marriage equality and don’t want to be part of ANYTHING that might make a dirty liberal queer happy.
In spite of that, KUDOS to state Senator Kittleman. Class act!
Timothy Kincaid
February 2nd, 2011
Zeke,
Please provide an instance in which the Log Cabin Republicans falsely claimed that Republicans were single handedly responsible for passing marriage equality. Because if they haven’t in the past, then this sounds rather like baseless animus.
They will – OF COURSE – publicize any positive steps by ANY Republicans. Yes, they “do it every rare time a single Republican supports a gay rights law.” And that is a good thing – it benefits our community.
And if this passes by one vote and that one vote is Kettleman’s then they indeed should make that point – especially in a state like Maryland that is 2/3 Democrat. It both encourages future good Republicans and shames bad Democrats. Again, this benefits our community.
And let’s fact it. LCR hoes a very tough row and without as much results as do gay Democratic groups. Do you blame them for getting excited when they see accomplishment? It encourages their supporters.
And if they were involved in talking with Kettleman, then they deserve bragging rights. Because, as he noted, gays and Democrats mocked him for his civil unions offer and only some Republicans offered support. (I don’t know if it was LCR or not)
And, as you and I have already discussed, we need LCR. Unless, of course, you want to spend all your time with Republican legislators trying to convince them that the good small-government conservative thing to do is to allow people to direct their own lives as they see fit? (and somehow I suspect that this isn’t high on your to-do list)
(But as for GOProud…. well, I go back and forth on them. Sometimes they are useful – such as the implosion at CPAC – but OMG what a bunch of hateful arrogant jerks)
Bruno
February 2nd, 2011
Timothy, an earlier poll had favorable at 46% vs. 44% unfavorable. We need to look at a slew of polling, but it’s my feeling that locally-based pollsters (such as this one out of Maryland that you show) tend to overstate support by a fair amount. This happened in both California and Maine recently. I’d like to see a PPP or SurveyUSA poll…automated call methodology seems to be more accurate in this case.
Stefan
February 2nd, 2011
Bruno,
The poll you’re thinking of was of registered voters. A poll of likely voters from the same company showed support at 48% vs. 43% opposed. Also, 2012 is a ways away, and it will only shift in our direction.
There is a chance too that the referendum will fail to even gain enough signatures. The window of opportunity is much shorter, and only a certain % of the signatures can come from certain areas.
Stefan
February 2nd, 2011
Brutus,
I couldn’t agree more about Maine. I don’t know why the legislators didn’t wait until 2010 to pass marriage equality. I even called up the sponsor of the bill and asked his assistant that flat out, and he didn’t give me any real answer.
Bruno
February 3rd, 2011
Stefan…48% is definitely a better # than 46%, but likely not good enough. We should add one point for the passage of time, but that’s still lacking 50%. I do think it’ll be close, perhaps closer than Maine & California.
I wouldn’t hold out hope for them to fail at getting the signatures. Even if they have only 1 week, they’ll throw millions of dollars into getting those signatures, by hook or by crook. They had them in Maine well before the deadline.
customartist
February 3rd, 2011
Timothy,
“mocked”? When, where? Overstated.
And:
“they deserve bragging rights”??
They actually deserve Shame for supporting the enemy.
When the Pope participated in hiding the molestation of thousands of children, does he “deserve cred” for anything? No!
And, why should LCR or anyone have to convince the Repubs to provide the smaller government (via ending of DOMA, etc), please tell me? If Repubs were TRUE Conservatives, then they would know this intuitively. Sadly they Cherry-Pick in just which areas they want to apply their “smaller government” mantra, and which areas do not do as they preach. They want no regulation upon THEMSELVES, but when they want to control others, denying Rights and Liberties, THAT’s okay!
Screw Republicans.
I just sent Allan Kittleman a contribution.
Stefan
February 3rd, 2011
Bruno,
A more recent poll (the other one you and I quoted was from a year ago) said 51% supported same sex marriage.
In regards to Maine, I believe they reached the signature number in about 6-8 weeks. Also, in Maryland only a certain number of signatures can come from certain areas, so that will make it more difficult.
Leave A Comment