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.
Maryland state senators Edward Kasemeyer and Katherine Klausmeier said Monday that they would support the marriage equality bill, bringing the number of votes for the measure to 23. The bill needs 24 votes to pass the chamber.
According to The Baltimore Sun, "Kasemeyer, a Democrat who represents Howard and Baltimore counties, had not previously said how he planned to vote on the bill. Many had believed he would not support it because he represents a conservative area."
Klausmeier, also a Democrat from Baltimore County, said, "I just weighed all of the options. It's about fairness," the Sun reported.
The announcements from Kasemeyer and Klausmeier leave four senators, all Democrats, undecided or unwilling to share their position on the bill. However, The Washington Post reports that one undecided senator, Joan Carter Conway, said last week that she would vote for the bill if hers was the deciding vote, a pledge that would bring the number of votes to the required 24 at this point.
Twenty senators oppose the bill, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which is expected to clear the judicial proceedings committee this Thursday.
Last week, Sen. James Brochin, another Democrat from Baltimore County, announced his support for the measure, saying that he was persuaded by the "appalling" testimony from marriage equality opponents.
Also on Monday, legislative leaders, attorney general Doug Gansler and advocates rallied in front of the statehouse in Annapolis to support the marriage equality bill and the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination against transgender Marylanders in the areas of employment, housing, and credit. Later, they delivered hundreds of carnations to lawmakers.
"This is a historic day for all Marylanders as we stand here advocating for our community's most basic rights - the right to be who you are and the right to marry the person that you love," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, executive director of Equality Maryland, in a news release. "Here tonight, I see the diversity of our community and the importance of this legislative session to our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender family. More and more Maryland legislators are standing with us on the right side of history. This Valentine's Day we are reminded that love is truly just love, and all people in our state deserve to be treated with respect and dignity."
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
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM
Here's how far-right activist Leonard Leo helped fund Bud Light boycott
July 23 2024 10:27 AM
Elon Musk’s comments about his trans daughter prove why she doesn’t speak to him
July 23 2024 9:16 AM
Nancy Pelosi endorses Kamala Harris for president
July 22 2024 4:07 PM
Charli XCX declares Kamala Harris IS brat & our next President's campaign agrees
July 22 2024 3:08 PM