CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Several hundred gay rights advocates rallied at the Maryland statehouse in Annapolis on Monday to oppose efforts to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage. "For the first time in Maryland history, people are proposing to amend the constitution to write out one group of people," said Daniel Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, a gay rights advocacy group. "It is not morally OK to change a constitution to say it applies to everyone but one group of people." The crowd heard same-sex marriage defended as a matter of equal rights by several speakers, including Kweisi Mfume, former head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate. "I know that gay bashing and immigrant bashing and union bashing at the end of the day rob us of our moral authority," Mfume said. "Governments don't make good families, but bad laws can make it difficult for families to do what they have to do." Lise Van Susteren, another Democratic senatorial candidate, attended the rally, along with several Democratic lawmakers and representatives of organized labor and the Maryland NAACP. The crowd also heard from Lisa Polyak, one of the 19 plaintiffs in a lawsuit that resulted in a declaration by circuit judge M. Brooke Murdock last month that the Maryland law defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman is unconstitutional. "Some in this state say they just want to amend the constitution like they were fixing a flat tire," Polyak said. "Our homes are at risk. Our children are at risk," she said. She drew laughter from the crowd by recalling a comment of her 6-year-old daughter: "I don't want them to offend the constitution." After Murdock's ruling, opponents of marriage equality introduced bills to let voters decide in November whether they want to amend the constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from getting married. Democratic legislative leaders contend the legislature should wait to see if Murdock's opinion is overturned by the appellate courts before taking any action. They succeeded in killing a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the house judiciary committee and then rejected a move to bring the bill out of committee to the full house of delegates for debate. Republicans in the house and senate have not given up hope of getting an amendment on the ballot for November, although they acknowledge it will be hard to overcome the opposition of Democratic leaders, who are fearful of a negative impact on Democratic candidates if the issue is on the ballot. Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who has advocated on behalf of some rights for gay couples, opposes same-sex marriage and has tried to put pressure on Democrats to place the issue on the November ballot. (AP)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Here Are the 15 Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the U.S.
November 01 2023 5:09 PM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
30 Steamy Photos of Folsom Street Fair 2023 Debauchery
October 15 2023 11:06 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
60 Burly Pics from Bearrison Street Fair 2022
October 08 2023 8:30 PM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
Prince William's aversion to spectacle created one — and might spawn a King Harry
March 22 2024 6:24 PM
Outrage after Oklahoma prosecutor declines charges in Nex Benedict bullying death
March 22 2024 5:21 PM
George Santos leaves Republican Party, will run for House seat as independent
March 22 2024 4:07 PM
Catherine, Princess of Wales, announces she has cancer
March 22 2024 2:57 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedProhibition Wellness & revolutionizing self-care for all
March 22 2024 1:19 PM
Biden sacrifices LGBTQ+ Pride flags at U.S. embassies to pass 'critical' spending bill
March 22 2024 12:37 PM
Tennessee bill would permit anti-LGBTQ+ foster and adoptee parents
March 22 2024 11:54 AM
Plus
Yahoo Feed8 dating tips for gay men from a gay psychotherapist
March 22 2024 11:51 AM
Trans woman assailed during Kanye West's Rolling Loud set beats back 'bullies' (exclusive)
March 22 2024 11:34 AM
Out Congress members outraged as anti-LGBTQ+ bills advance
March 21 2024 6:59 PM
RuPaul shades 'masculine white gay men' who project 'internalized homophobia'
March 21 2024 5:43 PM
Alabama forces universities to implement trans bathroom ban while outlawing DEI
March 21 2024 3:55 PM
'Cruel' Nebraska senator investigated after using colleague's name in a rape scene
March 21 2024 3:51 PM
Police arrest Russian nightclub employees over drag show
March 21 2024 2:24 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedUnleash your fiery spirit with The Pride Store’s Aries gift guide
March 21 2024 2:08 PM
Cable news coverage of 2023 anti-trans bills lacked trans voices: Media Matters
March 21 2024 12:45 PM