Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Uniting Americans Families Act currently before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees would help gay and lesbian U.S. citizens get their "permanent partners" citizenship.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
By DANA AMIHERE, Capital News Service Maryland’s same-sex couples may have won the right to marry on Election Day, but binational couples like Kelly Costello and Fabiola Morales continue to fight to have their unions recognized. Immigration law permits one’s parent, spouse or child to petition for a move to the United States. However, a sponsor has to be a permanent U.S. resident to make the petition. Morales’ mother is in the naturalization process herself, her brother can’t sponsor her by law, she doesn’t have any children and there’s a backlog for nurses in immigration. “As thrilled as we are and see it in a positive light that we’re moving on the right path,” Costello said, “I think it’s important for people to realize that the state …
Friday, November 30, 2012
Attorney General Douglas Gansler answered questions about the implementation of Maryland's same-sex marriage law in a 19-page opinion.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, November 30, 2012
By DANA AMIHERE, Capital News Service An opinion released Thursday by the attorney general’s office said that same-sex couples can obtain marriage licenses as soon as Gov. Martin O’Malley “formally proclaims” the results of this month's election, which he is expected to do on or about Dec. 6. The law, and therefore the licenses, will not be effective until Jan. 1. Attorney General Douglas Gansler answered other questions about the implementation of Maryland's same-sex marriage law in the 19-page opinion. Gansler and Chief Counsel Adam Snyder found that postdating the licenses’ effective date doesn’t impose an unconstitutional waiting period on same-sex couples because it’s the ceremony, not the license which validates the marriage. The …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Cake shops, wedding venues expect to see part of $90 million boost from marriage-equality provision.
- GOVERNMENT
- Ben Gross
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Sunday, November 11, 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 …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
As of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, it appears that Marylanders will support same sex marriage, the Dream Act and gaming.
- ELECTIONS
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
By DAVID GUTMAN and MATT OWINGS Capital News Service In a state that went to President Barack Obama, with very few competitive congressional races, voters streamed to the polls in Maryland on Tuesday motivated by three high profile referendums on gay marriage, gambling and immigration. With $92.2 million spent by supporters and opponents of Question 7, which would expand casino gambling in Maryland, the issue has dominated the airwaves in the state. But the massive amount of campaign ads did not clarify the issue for all voters. “I’m not too sure about whether the money will actually go to the schools,” said Mary Floyd, 58, who, despite her uncertainty, voted yes on Question 7 at Nicholas Orem Middle School in Hyattsville. “My thing is the…
Monday, November 5, 2012
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6. Maryland voters will see the following ballot questions at the polls.
Delegate Susan Krebs provided the following referendum ballot question summaries in correspondence with constituents over the past several weeks. Patch has compiled them here to help you prepare to vote on Election Day tomorrow Tuesday, Nov. 6. Question 3: Suspension and Removal of Elected Officials Changes the point at which an elected official charged with certain crimes is automatically suspended or removed from office. Under existing law, an elected official who is convicted or pleads no contest is suspended and is removed only when the conviction becomes final. Under the amended law, an elected official is suspended when found guilty and is removed when the conviction becomes final or when the elected official pleads guilty or no …
Thursday, November 1, 2012
A vote for the referendum is a vote for same-sex marriage.
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Thursday, November 1, 2012
By CAITLIN JOHNSTON, Capital News Service David M. Johnson knows how to convince people. The 65-year-old spent the majority of his adult life as an advertising executive in New York City, with clients such as Pepsi and GE Corporate. He's even credited with coming up with Dodge's, "Grab life by the horns." The experience showed recently as he directed a videographer, sound guy and two actors around a suddenly cramped apartment in Fells Point, filming an ad in support of Maryland's same-sex marriage referendum. The semi-retired advertising guru who abandoned the skyscrapers and professional shoots of New York for a life in Baltimore now finds himself amidst one of the biggest political clashes in Maryland. Despite being one of the most …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Birk said he believes gay marriage will affect the next generation.
Matt Birk, the starting center for the Baltimore Ravens and former player for the Minnesota Vikings, wrote an op-ed published this weekend in The Minneapolis Star Tribune that detailed the reasons why he is against gay marriage. In the op-ed, he wrote, “it is important to set the record straight about what the marriage debate is all about, and to clarify that not all NFL players think redefining marriage is a good thing.” Birk may have been referring to a controversy that ensued after a Maryland legislator wrote a letter to the Ravens’ ownership to silence Brendon Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the team, after he came out in support of gay marriage. Birk wrote that he believes both a mother and a father play a vital role in raising a child…
Sunday, September 30, 2012
In a Gonzales Research & Marketing poll released this week, 51 percent of voters said they will vote for Question 6 and same-sex marriage, while 43 percent said they will vote against it.
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
By CAITLIN JOHNSTON, Capital News Service At a private event this week, Archbishop William E. Lori and members of the faith community called Maryland's same-sex marriage referendum "misleading" and a "threat to marriage." "This isn't about rights or needs or benefits," said Joe LeGath of St. Mark Church in Catonsville. "This is a subtle attack on religious freedom." The event, co-sponsored by the Maryland Marriage Alliance and the Maryland Catholic Conference, was held at St. Mary's Seminary and University and was closed to the public and media. How will you vote on Question 6? Tell us in comments. The night featured the Archbishop, about 200 guests and several other speakers. Participants came from throughout Maryland, D.C., Delaware and…
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Maryland voters will see same-sex marriage on the ballot in November.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
By CAITLIN JOHNSTON Capital News Service ANNAPOLIS -- Gay rights activists, religious leaders and politicians are gearing up for two months of campaigning on the Maryland referendum to strike down same-sex marriage legislation that passed in March. Hot off the political conventions in Tampa and Charlotte, volunteers will be staffing nightly phone banks, canvassing door-to-door and finding ways to make same-sex marriage a personal issue for voters. "This is not something that's esoteric or theological," said Maryland Sen. Allan Kittleman, R-Howard, who supports same-sex marriage. "These are real people who are living in our state that are unable to receive the benefit that others have simply because of their sexual orientation." Maryland …
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Thousands of Carroll County residents went to Chick-fil-A Wednesday.
The Westminster Chick-fil-A saw lines out the door much of the day Wednesday, and if you've been paying attention, you know the hype has nothing to do with a cow. A national conversation has exploded recently due to Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's comments on his opposition to gay marriage. Do you think in the long run this controversy will help or hurt Chick-fil-A, or do you think it will be forgotten in a few weeks? Tell us in comments. Westminster joined locations across the country Wednesday that participated in Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, a day created by former Arkansas governor and former Rebuplican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. He created an event on Facebook encouraging people to show their support and appreciation …
Maggie Maltby
5:39 am on Sunday, December 30, 2012
As a British citizen I'm astounded that in America you have to endure such prejudice. Where is the 'freedom' you flaunt so proudly to the rest of the world when you can allow such discrimination. more ›