Activists push
repeal of Maryland's pro-gay laws

Christian and conservative activists pushing to overturn four Maryland bills that broaden gay rights are pressing forward, they said Wednesday, even though two of the bills were vetoed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich. One of the legislature's most conservative Republicans, Donald Dwyer of Anne Arundel County, said he doesn't want to take any risks that the two bills may become law over the governor's objections. The general assembly could override the vetoes when lawmakers return to the state capital in January. "We cannot and will not let up," Dwyer said at a news conference outside the statehouse. "We have not won this battle. We've simply made one step in the right direction, as a result of the governor's veto on two pieces of legislation." Dwyer, and the religious groups that back him, say it's crucial to put all of the legislation before voters and let them take one side or the other--regardless of whether Ehrlich has publicly nixed the bills. The legislation vetoed is:

- a bill to establish a domestic-partnership registry that would allow gay and straight partners to make medical decisions for each other; - a bill to grant a transfer tax exemption to gay couples who make their partners co-owners of property. The legislation Ehrlich will allow to become law is: - a bill amending the state's hate-crime law to expand protections for gays; - a bill, called the Safe Schools Reporting Act of 2005, that requires schools to report bullying incidents. Election officials say a successful petition drive would suspend the hate-crimes and school reporting bills from becoming law until after the 2006 general election, when voters would decide the issues. Dwyer and his supporters have until June 30 to gather 51,185 signatures for each bill. The signatures must be from registered voters, and they must come from all areas of the state, election officials say. If successful, the drive would put a question on the ballot that asks voters whether the bills should become law. If Ehrlich's vetoes stand, questions on only two of the bills would be put on the ballot--if the petition drive is successful. Richard Bowers, chairman of Defend Maryland Marriage, called the vetoes "a stepping-stone on our path to victory." Henry Fawell, a spokesman for Ehrlich's office, says the governor didn't ask Dwyer to halt the referendum drive, but he added that Ehrlich "will not be involved" in the effort. Equality Maryland, the state's largest gay rights advocacy group, called on Ehrlich to condemn the petition drives. Dan Furmansky, head of the group, called Dwyer's efforts "foolish beyond imagination.... There is no time for the governor to be subtle. The governor must forcefully condemn these referendum efforts, especially since he's signing two of these bills. This just paints them as the fanatics they are--that they won't condemn violence in schools and on the streets." (AP)