Gay Marriage Passed in Maryland (Baltimore, Annapolis: tax, exemption, law)

[UTVols865]

Dear Fellow Marylanders:

Gov. O'Malley signed the bill legalizing gay marriage in Maryland today.

How do you really feel about it?

Do you think it will stay that way or will there be enough signatures by opponents to put a referendum on November 2012 ballot to overturn it eventually?

As an authentic Christian, I am for full marriage equality in Maryland. I strongly believe that one's actions and lifestyle do not affect my faith so why cares about what other people do in their bedrooms. It's a total waste of time and energy to me!

[phlinak]

I think they will get enough signatures to put it on the ballot but I don't think they will garner enough support to overturn it. However, I think the vote in November will be closer than most people expect.

Even if the referendum fails and marriage between homosexuals and lesbians remains the law in Maryland, recognition by the state will not neccesarily equate to recognition by the religious institutions.

Some will recognize such marriages and some will not and that's when the debate will really get interesting, because the question will become whether or not the state will force religious institutions to embrace and/or recognize these unions through punitive measures, such as revoking any tax exemption status.

[rsh56]

Hasn't really bothered me since they can do what they want.

[UTVols865]

Originally Posted by phlinak

I think they will get enough signatures to put it on the ballot but I don't think they will garner enough support to overturn it. However, I think the vote in November will be closer than most people expect.

Even if the referendum fails and marriage between homosexuals and lesbians remains the law in Maryland, recognition by the state will not neccesarily equate to recognition by the religious institutions.

Some will recognize such marriages and some will not and that's when the debate will really get interesting, because the question will become whether or not the state will force religious institutions to embrace and/or recognize these unions through punitive measures, such as revoking any tax exemption status.

I believe they will get 55,100 signatures required to put the referendum on the ballot.

I hope it won't be overturned; we could be surprised because Maryland isn't overwhelming liberal as it is perceived to be. According to the last poll in January, only 53 percent of Marylanders are for gay marriage. With the margin of error, it could easily be overturned by 49% Yes and 51% No.

I think it doesn't matter if religious institutions embrace it or not as long it's legal by the state. They don't have to get married in churches or have loved one being sick at a Catholic hospital where they are more likely to be treated unfairly.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by UTVols865

I hope it won't be overturned; we could be surprised because Maryland isn't overwhelming liberal as it is perceived to be.

I kind of get the feeling that most people are democrats, but many are not liberals in the true sense of the word. I know plenty of people who invariably vote democrat yet seem pretty conservative (mostly older folks).

The Baltimore, DC, and the area in between are liberal. The rest, including Annapolis, is pretty conservative. If it gets overturned the signatures and votes will probably mostly come from the more rural areas of the state, but these areas have much less population.

I hope it doesn't get overturned too.

[justtitans]

I think someone mentioned this on another thread, but people are underestimating the power of President Obama's re-election and what impact it will have on this. His re-election is going to bring out droves of black church goers, who were the main ones who got the bill killed last year. I don't know if that will be enough to stop it, but it won't be as easy as it would have been in a non-presidential election year.

[HurricaneDC]

I hope it doesn't get overturned either. It'd be nice for this state to have at least one slightly libertarian law.

Of course, there's always the chance that enough of the ass-backwards folks in this state will band together to bring it down. Good ol' religious fundamentalists. Maryland is not a classically liberal state, it's a modern liberal state... legislate this and tax that and what not. With just enough black religious extremists and white rural conservatives to legislate morality.

[gwillyfromphilly]

Originally Posted by UTVols865

Dear Fellow Marylanders:

Gov. O'Malley signed the bill legalizing gay marriage in Maryland today.

How do you really feel about it?

Do you think it will stay that way or will there be enough signatures by opponents to put a referendum on November 2012 ballot to overturn it eventually?

As an authentic Christian, I am for full marriage equality in Maryland. I strongly believe that one's actions and lifestyle do not affect my faith so why cares about what other people do in their bedrooms. It's a total waste of time and energy to me!

So I guess this officially proves that Maryland isn't as Southern as some people thought but is actually a liberal Northern State. I guess some people just got their reality check!

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by HurricaneDC

I hope it doesn't get overturned either. It'd be nice for this state to have at least one slightly libertarian law.

Of course, there's always the chance that enough of the ass-backwards folks in this state will band together to bring it down. Good ol' religious fundamentalists. Maryland is not a classically liberal state, it's a modern liberal state... legislate this and tax that and what not. With just enough black religious extremists and white rural conservatives to legislate morality.

Black religious extremists, as you put it, is really not the only ones that is against gay marriage. Homosexuality is taboo in the black community in general. You will people who have never stepped foot in a church that will make sure that law doesn't pass. That thinking is more cultural than religious.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by gwillyfromphilly

So I guess this officially proves that Maryland isn't as Southern as some people thought but is actually a liberal Northern State. I guess some people just got their reality check!

I want to argue with you there, but i also don't want to throw the thread off track... ah well.

Maryland seems to be passing gay marriage by just a tiny amount, but I hope it makes it though. It's not over yet and I don't think it'll go as smoothly as many expect.