Fight for/against same-sex marriage begins in Maryland for 2012.

[Wizard777]

I think it time to recognize that Love is the Wise Creation of God, by whatever name you call Him. Therefore all Love flows from God. We are to keep that Love free from the influences of the Angra Manyu (Angry spirits) the Druj (lying spirits) and the Daeva (destructive spirits.) Whenever a person follows the Love that God has placed in their good heart and good mind to their true soulmate. The Love that exists between them is free from the influence of the Angra Manyu, the Druj and the Daeva. It is therefore a Holy and Sacred thing.

So say I Magus Amathion.

Contrary to unpopular belief.
No one is "turning."
But the season has turned.
X- You are here now.

[Bmoreteacher]

Shows libby priorities. Terrible economy, massive budget problems and the libs' top priority is gay marriage?

What a straw man argument! I have a feeling you would always find something more important to discuss than gay marriage.

[Bmoreteacher]

I disagree. Myself, I am against legalization of same sex marriage (based on my personal beliefs, but I don't judge and I respect whatever choices other people make) but all for domestic partnership/civil union. if domestic partnership/civil union gets on any ballot, people in the middle will deciding not fundamentalist Christians.

Personally, I don't think the same sex marriage in MD legislature failed because last minute lobbying by religious groups. If failed because few legislators didn't get what they wanted.

What are you disagreeing with? When civil unions have been put to a vote, they have typically been shot down as well. While I would gladly take SOME form of legal protections, I think caving to the conservative Christian crowd won't get us anywhere, as they want to force us back into the closet.

[betamanlet]

What a straw man argument! I have a feeling you would always find something more important to discuss than gay marriage.

Once again, libbies only care about tiny minorities when they already have civil unions in MD.

Meanwhile everyone else is getting taxes raised, losing their rights to the increasing nanny state, but it will all be worth it to you if there's gay marriage. Great tradeoff.

[Bmoreteacher]

Once again, libbies only care about tiny minorities when they already have civil unions in MD.

Meanwhile everyone else is getting taxes raised, losing their rights to the increasing nanny state, but it will all be worth it to you if there's gay marriage. Great tradeoff.

1. We don't have civil unions in MD. Are you really that out of the loop?

2. You whine about smokers rights then work against gay rights, so you're being a hypocrite. It shouldn't be surprising that gays are working towards gay rights. Groups tend to work for their own rights. Take a history course.

[RTB]

Gays can at last get married in Washington State, just as they've been able to in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa and New York. What is Maryland's problem? Has heterosexual marriage declined in any state where gay marriage has been permitted? No. Has the sky opened up and poured out plague upon the people of those states? No. More importantly, have any of the opponents of equality even tried to see if any of the doom and gloom they've predicted have come true? No. They just don't like the idea of gays getting married, so they make up all this garbage that boils down to them trying to force their superstitious religious beliefs on people who don't share them. Defend marriage indeed. How the heck do you "defend" a definition anyway?

I'm especially disgusted at the number of black preachers and at the black community in general for lining up 53 - 47 against equal rights. They, of all people, should know better! And yes, I am black.

[gps29070]

As a 100 percent heterosexual male, gays present no threat to me and I'm in favor of them getting married if they choose, along with the responsibilities and rights of marriage.

Now if gays start knocking on my door like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses do trying to convert me, then yea, I would have a problem with gays.

[MontanaJack]

Gays can at last get married in Washington State, just as they've been able to in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa and New York. What is Maryland's problem? Has heterosexual marriage declined in any state where gay marriage has been permitted? No. Has the sky opened up and poured out plague upon the people of those states? No. More importantly, have any of the opponents of equality even tried to see if any of the doom and gloom they've predicted have come true? No. They just don't like the idea of gays getting married, so they make up all this garbage that boils down to them trying to force their superstitious religious beliefs on people who don't share them. Defend marriage indeed. How the heck do you "defend" a definition anyway?

I'm especially disgusted at the number of black preachers and at the black community in general for lining up 53 - 47 against equal rights. They, of all people, should know better! And yes, I am black.

Actually the poll I saw had the margin at 53-41 among black democrats. When you factor in the 10% or so of blacks who vote Republican, you have to figure support for gay marriage would drop well into the 30%'s. It's stunning therefore that support for gay marriage statewide is as high as it is (50-44, which is well above the national average). With those numbers, support for gay marriage among white Marylanders has to be into the upper 50%'s, which is quite high considering that on many other non-social issues, white Marylanders are really not that liberal (they voted for McCain and Bush twice, surprisingly). Also saw that in the poll Democrats were only 57% in favor while Republicans were 35% in favor, well above the nat'l average. So yeah you have a lot of Rockefeller Republicans in the suburbs who tend to be socially liberal, versus blacks in Baltimore City and PG County who are not. Basically race is just as strong a predictor as political affiliation when it comes to gay marriage.

[MontanaJack]

The poll in question, http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...Q_graphic.html

[betamanlet]

As a 100 percent heterosexual male, gays present no threat to me and I'm in favor of them getting married if they choose, along with the responsibilities and rights of marriage.

Now if gays start knocking on my door like Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses do trying to convert me, then yea, I would have a problem with gays.

Liberals don't come knocking on your doors. They use public schools to accomplish that purpose by indoctrinate kids with liberal values.

[Bmoreteacher]

Liberals don't come knocking on your doors. They use public schools to accomplish that purpose by indoctrinate kids with liberal values.

So conservatives pushing prayer in school (a violation of the 1st Amendment which you were ranting about earlier today) and teaching Creationism aren't ways of indoctrinating kids to be more conservative?

[TommyT]

Has anyone else been hit repeatedly by a robo-call from (forget the name) some Values of Family group that asks 4 questions: Are you a registered voter, Do you believe marriage should be limited to a man and a woman?, Are you male?, Are you over 50 yrs old?...
The last 2 questions are what make me think..
Are you male?.. Is there the fear that if gays can marry... then they wont be able to get laid by the drunk bisexual women because their relationship is solidified? Or is it that guys think they are sooo attractive that not only all women, but all men, will want to rape them?
Are you over 50?.. This question has multiple considerations... Young people are less likely to discriminate.. and are mostly less likely to vote, Older people are more likely to discriminate (due to old fashioned religious and social upbringing), and have the free time to vote.. but wont live as long...

[Mitchum]

Did you sign the anti DREAM Act petition? If you did, you put your name into the Haterbase that they are drawing from.

[Saticon3]

Did you sign the anti DREAM Act petition? If you did, you put your name into the Haterbase that they are drawing from.

I signed it and have yet to be contacted by anyone about anything as a result.

[Mitchum]

Be patient.

[Saticon3]

Be patient.

I do feel left out.

[MDvet]

What are you disagreeing with? When civil unions have been put to a vote, they have typically been shot down as well. While I would gladly take SOME form of legal protections, I think caving to the conservative Christian crowd won't get us anywhere, as they want to force us back into the closet.

I believe that a marriage is between a man and a woman.

When were civil unions have put to a vote and shot down?

According to Wiki, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union

Jurisdictions in the U.S. that offer civil unions or domestic partnerships granting nearly all of the state-recognized rights of marriage to same-sex couples include:
Domestic partnership in California (2000 – expanded over time)
Civil union in New Jersey (2007)
Domestic partnership in Oregon (2008)
Domestic partnership in the District of Columbia (1992 law implemented, 2002 became effective – expanded over time)
Domestic partnership in Washington (2007 – expanded over time)
Domestic partnership in Nevada (2009)
Civil union in Illinois (2011)
Civil union in Rhode Island (2011)
Civil union in Hawaii (2012)
Civil union in Delaware (2012)

States in the U.S. with domestic partnerships or similar status granting some of the rights of marriage include:
Reciprocal beneficiary relationship in Hawaii (1997)
Domestic partnership in Maine (2004);
Domestic partnership in Maryland (2008);
Domestic partnership in New Jersey (2004);
Designated beneficiary agreement in Colorado (2009).
Domestic partnership in Wisconsin (2009)

[MontanaJack]

The bill cleared committee 25-18 and will be sent to the house floor tomorrow, fyi. So evidently the bill has picked up a couple supporters already and it hasn't even hit the floor. One Republican switched sides and voted in favor of gay marriage apparently. Another one or two Republicans are also wavering - mainly from places like Frederick and Anne Arundel County.

[RTB]

Actually the poll I saw had the margin at 53-41 among black democrats. When you factor in the 10% or so of blacks who vote Republican, you have to figure support for gay marriage would drop well into the 30%'s. It's stunning therefore that support for gay marriage statewide is as high as it is (50-44, which is well above the national average). With those numbers, support for gay marriage among white Marylanders has to be into the upper 50%'s, which is quite high considering that on many other non-social issues, white Marylanders are really not that liberal (they voted for McCain and Bush twice, surprisingly). Also saw that in the poll Democrats were only 57% in favor while Republicans were 35% in favor, well above the nat'l average. So yeah you have a lot of Rockefeller Republicans in the suburbs who tend to be socially liberal, versus blacks in Baltimore City and PG County who are not. Basically race is just as strong a predictor as political affiliation when it comes to gay marriage.

It's not race that's the strong predictor, it's religiosity.

[RTB]

Liberals don't come knocking on your doors. They use public schools to accomplish that purpose by indoctrinate kids with liberal values.

Yeah, like equal justice under law, all people being created equal and other evil liberal ideas.