Baltimore Tells Md. Lawmakers To Pass Gay Marriage Bill

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Baltimore Tells Md. Lawmakers To Pass Gay Marriage Bill
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: March 18, 2008 - 5:00 pm ET

(Baltimore, Maryland) Baltimore City Council has lent its endorsement to legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry. The move comes less than a month before the General Assembly adjourns, and as the Senate approved a bill giving same-sex partners the right to make medical decisions for one another.

The bill to allow same-sex marriage was filed in the legislature in January. (story) Called the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act it would allow civil marriages for gay couples while permitting churches opposed to same-sex marriage to refuse to perform weddings.

Another bill before lawmakers would allow civil unions. It has wider support in the legislature and with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D). Last month a third bill was filed. That one would end all civil marriage in the state and replace it with domestic partnerships for all couples, opposite or same-sex. (story)

The Senate on Tuesday voted 30-17 to allow domestic partners to make decisions for each other in life-threatening situations. It now goes to the house.

The legislation is seen as an attempt to head off support for either the marriage or the civil unions bill. The measure to end civil marriage in the state has little to no chance of passage.

Supporters of the marriage bill say that if, as expected, it dies on the order paper when the legislative session ends it will be reintroduced when the new session begins.

Baltimore City Council Member Bill Henry proposed the resolution supporting same-sex marriage. It passed on a 9-3-3 vote with the help of Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

Rawlings-Blake recently submitted testimony before the House Judiciary Committee urging passage of the marriage bill.

"Marriage is a unique institution on many levels: religious, spiritual, and social. Marriage is also a civil institution that affords many economic and contractual benefits that are not afforded to people as individuals. I do not believe that people should be denied any of these rights just because they do not fall under the legal definition of marriage," she told state lawmakers.

Following council's vote Henry said he was elated with the result.

"Expanding civil marriage to include same-sex couples is the fair thing to do," Henry said.

"I am proud of my colleagues who stood up for all of our families in Baltimore. I hope this resolution will nudge those state legislators from Baltimore who are not yet enthusiastically supporting this historic legislation to rethink their position."

The vote made Baltimore the four local jurisdiction in Maryland to support same-sex marriage, following College Park, Kensington and Takoma Park.

Last September Maryland's highest court upheld a state law barring same-sex unions. (story)

In a split ruling the majority opinion said that while the court agrees that marriage is a fundamental right, there is no fundamental right to marry someone of the same sex. The court ruled that defining marriage should be up to the legislature

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