League of Women Voters of Maryland

MARRIAGE EQUALITY Bills are expected to be introduced in the Senate and House this session to amend the state’s Family Law Statute to allow “two people, not otherwise prohibited from marrying” to marry in Maryland. The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act would expand civil marriage to same-sex couples. County clerks could then issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples regardless of gender. Civil marriage is a relationship licensed by the state and the bill states that “no officials of a religious institution or body authorized to solemnize marriages shall be required to solemnize any marriage in violation of the right to free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by the Maryland Constitution and Maryland Declaration of Rights.” The bill is expected to be introduced by Delegates Victor R. Ramirez and Benjamin Barnes of Prince Georges County. The Senate bill was expected to be introduced by Senator Gwendolyn Britt, also of Prince Georges County who, unfortunately, suddenly died on January 12, 2008. An article that appeared in The Baltimore Sun on Thursday, January 17, 2008 reported a poll that found a majority of Marylanders support some form of legalized same-sex unions. On the other side of the issue, Delegate Donald Dwyer of Anne Arundel County plans to sponsor a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Sherry Hyman