O'Malley holds last bill signing for the year

Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md.: Gov. Martin O'Malley signed two bills Thursday to bring some of the rights married couples have to unmarried couples - including gay couples.

O'Malley says he believes the bills help address "inequities and unfairness" against committed couples who are not married, including gay couples.

full article

Md. Gov. To Sign Partner Medical Bill

(Annapolis, Maryland) Legislation that would give domestic partners - gay or straight - medical and funeral decision-making rights has passed its final hurdle and is awaiting the signature of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

The bill passed the House of Delegates this week. It was approved by the Senate last month.

Under the legislation couples would have to show "mutual interdependence". That could be done by showing they jointly own property or have joint checking accounts.

full article

Gay Marriage Bills Proposed With Almost 50 Sponsors

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Forty-nine lawmakers have signed on to bills allowing gay marriage in Maryland.

Sponsors of the bills introduced in the House and Senate said they have seen more support for the idea than ever before.

The bills would remove gender definitions in state marriage law. They would also include the caveat that religious leaders would not be required to perform or recognize the unions.

"No church or mosque or synagogue in the United States should ever be forced to marry anyone that it doesn't want to," said state Sen. James Raskin, D-Montgomery County. "If a religion wants to discriminate against interfaith couples, interracial couples or same-sex couples, they have every right to do so, and we codify that right in this bill."

The bills are aimed at government and say that committed gay couples should be allowed to transfer property and pensions, share health insurance and make medical decisions for their loved ones, just as heterosexual couples do, News4's Wendy Rieger reported.

"If government is going to give rights and privileges in this country, we have an obligation, we have a duty to do that without partiality and prejudice, and that is simply what this bill does," said Delegate Ben Barnes, D-Anne Arundel.

Almost all of the sponsors come from Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Supporters said they are seeking support in other areas.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller reportedly opposes the measures, as does the Catholic Church, Rieger said.

Gay rights groups said they think opposition is weakening.

"I think that the Maryland Catholic office is out of step with the majority of Catholics. They don't want to discriminate against anybody, and as long as their church has the freedom to do or not do what they want, they shouldn't get in the way of the civil realm," said Dan Furmansky of Equality Maryland.

Two of the bills' co-sponsors are openly gay.

Sen. Heather Mazeer stood with her partner, holding a replica of their marriage certificate, which is symbolic.

The late Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, who died two weeks ago, was a strong supporter of the measures.

Local Gay Rights Advance In 3 States

LGBT civil rights have taken a step forward in communities in three states: Ohio, Maryland and Iowa.

Toledo, Ohio has become the first major city in that state to create a domestic partner registry. It will be available to same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples who cannot or chose not to marry.

In Maryland, Montgomery County has expanded its human rights ordinance to cover the transgendered. Gays and lesbians were already covered under the law.

The city of Waterloo, Iowa has become the latest municipality to add sexual orientation to the list of classes protected from discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit practices.

full story

Maryland: Sadness on a new day

On one hand there was sadness in Maryland. The Maryland Court of Appeals upheld the states' ban on same sex marriage. It was a 4-3 ruling. Judge Irma S. Raker wrote a separate dissent.

At a news conference this afternoon on the steps of Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, plaintiff Lisa Polyak said: "This is not our best day. This is certainly not the day we were hoping for." Choking back tears, she said she worried about how she would explain the court's decision to her two daughters, ages 8 and 11.

On the other hand, today was more, much more. Because today was the day Maryland threw out the old and brought in the new. Martin O'Malley was sworn in as the state's 61st governor yesterday with a 19-gun salute. He promised "a new day in Maryland" marked by bipartisan respect and a fresh resolve to improve the lives of state residents.

"For too long in the capitals of our nation and our states, we've acted as if our people have somehow lost the capacity to sacrifice and to make tough choices, but, my friends, to govern is to choose," O'Malley said from a podium outside the historic State House.

"In our Maryland, in our one Maryland, progress is always possible. And together we can make real progress, with respect for one another, with truth about ourselves, and the problems that we face, and faith in our ideals as a people."

Gov. Martin O'Malley rejoined with his former band O'Malley's March at his inaugural ball Wednesday night. They provided entertainment to a crowd of about 8,000.