Maryland gay rights group applauds NY vote
Leaders from Equality Maryland blasted out an email Friday evening cheering the passage and signing of a gay marriage law in New York and pledging to try again here next year.
"It’s time that Maryland joins the ranks of states who favor marriage equality," said Patrick Wojahn, the Chair of Equality Maryland Foundation in a statement. He said that Maryland is "on the verge" of passing similar legislation here and his group "commits to the fight to bring full equality in the 2012 legislative session.”
New York's legislature passed the measure after an intense lobbying effort from Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo signed it into law immediatly.
"It’s time that Maryland joins the ranks of states who favor marriage equality," said Patrick Wojahn, the Chair of Equality Maryland Foundation in a statement. He said that Maryland is "on the verge" of passing similar legislation here and his group "commits to the fight to bring full equality in the 2012 legislative session.”
New York's legislature passed the measure after an intense lobbying effort from Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo signed it into law immediatly.
In Maryland, a same-sex marriage bill passed the Senate but was yanked off the House floor after vote counts came up short. Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley stayed on the sidelines for much of the debate, making calls only in the final week when delegates were bolting from the measure.
But in other ways the debate over the New York bill, and the media coverage of it, echoed Maryland's efforts. There was intense speculation about whether the measure could get through New York's Republican controlled Senate with news organizations closely tracking lawmakers' public statements and doing independent vote counts.
And, as in Maryland, the NY measure was amended at the behest of conservatives who wanted to be sure the bill would provide legal protections to religious groups that might want to opt-out of same-sex celebrations.
The national group Freedom to Marry also put out a statement lauding a "surge in new support" and predicting that their "epic win" in New York would create momentum to pass similar bills in other states. The group had targeted three states this year: New York, Rhode Island and Maryland. New York was the only state where it passed.
But in other ways the debate over the New York bill, and the media coverage of it, echoed Maryland's efforts. There was intense speculation about whether the measure could get through New York's Republican controlled Senate with news organizations closely tracking lawmakers' public statements and doing independent vote counts.
And, as in Maryland, the NY measure was amended at the behest of conservatives who wanted to be sure the bill would provide legal protections to religious groups that might want to opt-out of same-sex celebrations.
The national group Freedom to Marry also put out a statement lauding a "surge in new support" and predicting that their "epic win" in New York would create momentum to pass similar bills in other states. The group had targeted three states this year: New York, Rhode Island and Maryland. New York was the only state where it passed.
Comments
KUDO'S to the 4 brave GOP Senators who honored their oath to protect and defend our Constitution.
Posted by: wayne | June 25, 2011 9:39 AM
Good for NY.
Do any of the reports quote the exact terminology used? I didn't see that pertinent detail here or in the linked article.
Posted by: MrRational | June 25, 2011 10:23 AM
Glad for NY. I am originally from Maryland. but now live in Philadelphia and was very hopeful that Maryland would've become the 6th State to legalize gay marriage, but was disappointed. Hopefully with the passage in NY, marriage in DC and Civil Unions in Delaware, Maryland will pass the bill in the 2012 session. i
Posted by: ToneRay | June 25, 2011 11:37 PM
How many homosexuals have enlisted into our military services since DADT has been thrown out?
They wanted to end it so bad yet I have not been able to find hard numbers on the thousands of Pink Beret enlistees.
COWARDS!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 26, 2011 10:17 AM
Gov Cuomo was the moving force that enabled the NY vote.
Hopefully Gov O:Malley will step up to the plate so that Gay Marylanders will have the rights the constitution promises.
Posted by: K Morgan | June 27, 2011 9:33 AM