Wedding bells for same-sex couples; bye-bye domestic partnerships

[Baltimatt]

camera_51--

I think yuca was looking more long-term, with the approval of same-sex marriage the result of a major change in the public's view of homosexuals. The approval of SSM was not the one thing that changed everything, but a lot of things over the years has culminated with this.

Churches have been able to deny performing opposite-sex marriages for a variety of reasons if it conflicts with their faith, so homosexuals should be no different.

Also, I see a lot more ridiculous posts on this board.

[Baltimatt]

Black support for Question 6

Same-sex marriage opponents counted African-American voters as allies, expecting them to vote in the general election to overturn legislation allowing same-sex couples to marry in Maryland. Polls in the months prior to November’s referendum seemed to back them up, with African-Americans registering less support of Question 6 than whites.

...

By Election Day, voters in the state’s large, predominantly black jurisdictions — Baltimore and Prince George’s County — contributed to the final approval of same-sex marriage by a 4 percent margin. In Baltimore, same-sex marriage got 57 percent of the vote. In Prince George’s, where opposition was expected to be very strong, it got 49 percent.

Just for fun, let's take a look back at 1967, when Maryland voted to repeal its ban on interracial marriage. Here's a clip from the Sun, in which Senator Joseph L. Manning stated he believed repealing the ban "violates the laws of God and nature." He also said a lot of "colored" ministers contacted him to urge voting against repeal, but that he was still a strong supporter of civil rights.

[Baltimatt]

The weddings begin.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m. New Year's Day, not long after fireworks had erupted at the Inner Harbor, James Scales and William Tasker kissed in the ceremonial room of Baltimore City Hall — sealing their new marriage as Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who'd just officiated the ceremony, looked on.

Then Scales, a manager in the mayor's office since William Donald Schaefer was in charge, threw up his right hand, Tasker beamed, and the room erupted in cheers.

"It just means a lot to be able to spend the rest of our lives together, and legally," Scales, 68, said of his marriage to Tasker, 60, his partner of 35 years.

Congratulations to all the happy couples!

[Baltimatt]

The Carroll County Times is out with a list of January wedding licenses issued in the county.

Judging from the names (and some I can't be certain of), it looks like 9 female couples out of 51 applied for licenses. That's almost 18%. It didn't look like any male couples applied for licenses.

[queenie]

The Carroll County Times is out with a list of January wedding licenses issued in the county.

Judging from the names (and some I can't be certain of), it looks like 9 female couples out of 51 applied for licenses. That's almost 18%. It didn't look like any male couples applied for licenses.

I live in Carroll County and good for them...this is great news!!!

Congratulations and I hope that ALL the couples are as happy with their marriages as hubby and I have I've been with ours....Twenty years and counting for us!!

[Baltimatt]

Queenie--

Best wishes to all the happy couples, and congrats on your marriage.

I believe the pattern is typically that more female couples get married than male couples, yet most of the negative reaction on this board comes from folks who don't like to think of two men "doing it."

[Brohan]

Congrats Guys!!!!!!!

Congrats, Ken! I wish you an your husband the best.

[Baltimatt]

With same-sex marriage on the books, domestic partnership benefits to go by the wayside.

The O'Malley administration has notified state employees in same-sex relationships that they won't be able to include domestic partners in their health insurance anymore. If they want coverage, they'll have to get married.

The policy change is the result of the new Maryland law allowing same-sex marriage, which took effect Jan. 1. The thinking is that offering health coverage to an unmarried same-sex partner doesn't make sense anymore, officials said, particularly since an unmarried heterosexual partner doesn't have the same right. But the move by the administration — which introduced domestic partner benefits in 2009 and championed marriage equality last year — has drawn polite dissent from some of the administration's staunchest allies.

Fair is fair, and if opposite-sex couples can't get domestic partner benefits, then same-sex couples shouldn't be able to, either. I could understand grandfathering existing beneficiaries.

[Baltimatt]

Congrats, Ken! I wish you an your husband the best.

Ken's the not marrying type, and his interest runs towards women, not men. Please pay attention!

[Hexexis]

...no one knows what I am feeling except me. ...

But you won't be deeply offended if some conclude, evenly wrongly, what you're feeling from your posts.

I'm always astounded that forum posters everywhere wail about being misunderstood, usually after posting some ennui-provoking personal concern. If you're misunderstood, then it's your job to clarify; it's not ours to correctly interpret all manner of prosiness & ambiguity. "You don't know what I'm feeling" is the last refuge of scoundrels that've frittered away any semblence of privacy on public forums.

[bmore_ken]

Ken's the not marrying type, and his interest runs towards women, not men. Please pay attention!

Brohan thrives off of being a jerkwad. I've just learned to ignore him and his nonsense

[RavnFreek]

Wonder how many domestic couples didn't think of that one? With equality, comes equality. Its only fair unless you offer benefits to opposite sex domestic partners as well.

The O'Malley administration has notified state employees in same-sex relationships that they won't be able to include domestic partners in their health insurance anymore.

If they want coverage, they'll have to get married.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features...#ixzz2SF1kydNU


Not really sure how anyone would have a leg to oppose this. I can't believe I agree with O'malley on something.

[bmore_ken]

I actually don't have a problem with this. Gays wanted equality so here it is.

[Marshan Man]

Yeah, I wonder how many straight live in couples that supported SSM. Thought about this? Hmm...

[Baltimatt]

Yeah, I wonder how many straight live in couples that supported SSM. Thought about this? Hmm...

They were only available to same-sex couples, because they couldn't marry at the time.

[sigmalady]

I actually don't have a problem with this. Gays wanted equality so here it is.

I agree.