Brody's Notes... Maryland's Attorney General Doug Gansler: "Recognition Of Same-Sex Marriages From Other Jurisdictions Is Consistent With Maryland State Law"

By Brody Levesque (Washington DC) Feb 24 | The announcement by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler that recognition of same sex marriages performed elsewhere would be consistent with present Maryland law, was applauded by LGBT Equality rights activists and organisations.

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese released the following statement:

“Although today’s long-awaited opinion by the Maryland Attorney General won’t erase many of the inequalities same-sex couples in Maryland face, it is certainly a positive development on the road to marriage equality.  Today’s opinion by Mr. Gansler only continues to further highlight the burdensome patchwork of unequal laws same-sex couples face across the country.  With every step that is taken in the progress towards full equality, it becomes more and more obvious that separate is not equal and marriage by any other name is not marriage.”

Susan Sommer, Director of Constitutional Litigation at Lambda Legal said that, 
"This opinion should bring some peace of mind to married same-sex couples and their families in Maryland as this state aligns itself with New York, in making clear that there is no gay exception to long-standing marriage recognition law. The Big Apple didn't topple after New York recognized out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples - far from it - and many families in Maryland just got more stability. Under well-settled law, a marriage valid where entered is valid in Maryland, even if the couple could not have married in Maryland. Unfortunately, this important step is only part of the story. Same-sex couples who reside in either New York or Maryland still have to leave home to get married, and they are as vulnerable as ever to discrimination in other states and by the federal government. These half-steps are helpful, but not enough – we need marriage equality for same-sex couples."

With neighboring Washington, D.C. accepting marriage applications from same-sex couples commencing March 3, 2010, when the Congressional review period ends, recognition of same-sex marriages would have a significant practical meaning for many same-sex couples next door in Maryland.