Thursday, March 28, 2013
Marriage equality supporters turned out in droves Wednesday as the court heard arguments on the law's constitutionality.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, March 28
Lauren Kirkwood and Anamika Roy, Capital News Service Chants calling for equality rang out across the front steps of the Supreme Court Wednesday, as marriage equality supporters gathered to wave American flags and carry colorful signs while the court inside heard a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act. Music blared over loudspeakers, and at one point the crowd began singing the national anthem. Many carried signs with messages like, “Sexuality is genetic, bigotry is a lifestyle," and “Don’t make me choose between my love for my wife & my love for my country.” Wednesday marked the second day of demonstrations outside the court on same-sex marriage issues—supporters also gathered Tuesday in opposition to Proposition 8, which bans gay …
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Defense of Marriage Act denies immigration by marriage for same-sex spouses.
While Maryland approved same-sex marriage in early November and licenses for those marriages will be available in many Maryland counties this week, the dream of marriage equality for some couples could end in separation by deportation, according to a recent Washington Post story. The 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) defines marriage as "the legal union between a man and a woman" and effectively denies access to pension and inheritance funds as well as the legal right to immigrate via marriage. That could spell deportation for spouses in the U.S. on temporary visas. In fact, the article states that more than 36,000 couples face this possibility. Since the passage of DOMA, 10 states and the District of Columbia have legislated to allow …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Numerous key laws passed in 2012 by the Maryland General Assembly take effect on Jan. 1.
Same-sex marriage, a first-in-the-nation arsenic ban for chicken feed and a law designed to protect children's credit reports are among the Maryland laws taking effect on Jan. 1. Some, including the marriage law and a Baltimore City charter amendment, were passed by voters in November. Others tweak existing rules, like renewable energy credits and car insurance. Here are the key laws you need to know about that take effect, according to a Maryland General Assembly document. Same-sex marriage: The Civil Marriage Protection Act, passed in the 2012 session, petitioned to referendum and ratified by Maryland voters in November, takes effect as scheduled on Jan. 1. Maryland was one of the first three states to ratify same-sex marriage at the …
Monday, December 10, 2012
In Prince George's County, 49 percent of the African-American community voted in favor of same-sex marriage.
Same-sex marriage opponents counted African-American voters among their allies leading up to November's election, expecting them to help overturn legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry in Maryland. Polls in the months prior to November's referendum on same-sex marriage seemed to back them up, with African-Americans showing less support than whites. But as the months wore on, opposition softened, especially in the face of endorsements from President Obama and prominent entertainers, as well as a media campaign that included clergy, athletes and other public figures. By Election Day, voters in the state's large, predominantly black jurisdictions -- Baltimore and Prince George's County -- joined to support same-sex marriage by a 4-…
Monday, November 12, 2012
Cake shops, wedding venues expect to see part of $90 million boost from marriage-equality provision.
- GOVERNMENT
- Ben Gross
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Monday, November 12, 2012
With the passage of Question 6 approving same-sex marriage, some financial analysts say believe that Maryland’s economy could see as much as a $90 million boost, according to a recent Gazette story. Mark Yost, president of the Maryland Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, quoted research from UCLA's Williams Institute that there could be $3.6 million in sales and lodging tax revenue, and $21 million per year from wedding-related businesses. A reporter for the Baltimore Business Journal spoke with Mary Alice Yetskey, the marketing director of Duff Goldman’s Charm City Cakes, who believes that her business will see a “much busier January” than normal. The story also quotes Mark Scurti, an attorney specializing in LGBT issues at Towson’s …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Victors attribute the wins to Democratic Party dominance, among other factors.
Capital News Service A dominant state Democratic Party, a progressive electorate, a national trend toward socially liberal policies and the need for more revenue in tough economic times converged in Maryland to bring passage of same-sex marriage, in-state tuition for some illegal immigrants, expanded gambling and a gerrymandered political map, political observers say. All of Maryland's ballot initiatives passed on election night. "(Gov. Martin) O'Malley and the Democrats have complete control," said Blair Lee, political columnist at The Gazette newspapers. "The only (political) competition and conversation was among Democrats … the Republicans are almost now gone the way of the Whig Party in terms of influence and presence." In Maryland, …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
"Chefs for Equality" event will raise funds to support the campaign to win Maryland's referendum next month on same-sex marriage.
Gov. Martin O'Malley and "Project Runway" host Tim Gunn will be among the guests of honor later this month for an event to support same-sex marriage in a referendum vote in Maryland, reports The Huffington Post. Human Rights Campaign and food columnist David Hagedorn are co-hosting the $300-a-ticket "Chefs for Equality" fundraiser Oct. 24 at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC. The event also features a special auction in which each table of eight will feast on a unique five-course menu prepared by a who's-who of DC chefs. Read more about it on The Huffington Post.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Bob Ross says supporting same-sex marriage is the 'fair thing to do.'
The head of the Prince George's County branch of the NAACP says he supports efforts to uphold same-sex marriage in Maryland. In a video posted Tuesday by Marylanders for Marriage Equality, an advocacy group backing same-sex marriage as it heads to a referendum in November, Prince George's NAACP leader Bob Ross said he would vote for Question 6. “Question 6 gives gays and lesbians the right to obtain a marriage license,” Ross said in the video posted to YouTube. “It is a fair thing to do for all citizens in the state of Maryland to have the right to obtain a marriage license.” Ross is following the lead of the NAACP, whose national board of directors announced the organization would support same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue earlier …
Thursday, August 9, 2012
The new District Heights location will open today.
A new Chick-fil-A will open its doors in Prince George's County today, even as a heated political debate continues to build around the business. The new District Heights location will be the 10th location in the county when it opens its doors at 9 a.m. County Council Member Karen R. Toles (D-Dist. 7) will be attending the grand opening and said in a statement that the restaurant will boost the local economy by bringing jobs to the area. “The opening of this new Chick-fil-A in District 7 has helped residents secure more than 100 jobs during a very rigid economy so the positive economic impact this restaurant will have on the surrounding community is exciting," Toles said in a statement. "I look forward to having them as one of our …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The younger you are, the more likely you are to support same-sex marriage. What does this mean for Maryland?
Based on Maryland's age distribution and a changing national attitude on same sex marriage, one could expect–surprise–a close referendum fight in November. Earlier this week, you may have read that increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage is not the result of a nationwide change of heart, but because those opposed tend to be older and are literally dying off. A study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life found that the increase of acceptance for same-sex marriage is the result of changing, aging demographics and "generational replacement," defined by Pew as "the arrival of younger, more supportive generations making up a larger share of the population." Nationally, 48 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, up from 35 …
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