Brody's Notes... Maryland House Committee Narrowly Approves Civil Marriage Protection Act

By Linsey Pecikonis (Annapolis, Maryland) MAR 4 | After overcoming enormous obstacles-including Maryland's elected having their officials their offices flooded with slanderous lies about gay and lesbian couples from out-of-state opposition, coupled with "on again--off again--on" support by sponsors of the measure, and then finally being forced to fight off a myriad of poison pill amendments put forward by Republicans, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee has just advanced its marriage equality bill to the full chamber by a narrow 12 to 10 vote. 

Morgan Meneses-Sheets, the Executive Director of Equality Maryland said:

“Marriage provides a critical safety net for families. With this favorable vote from the committee on SB 116, we're one step closer to providing not only the same benefits, but also the respect and dignity to the thousands of gay and lesbian couples in Maryland. From every corner of the state, Marylanders have made it clear that a majority favor marriage equality. We remain cautiously optimistic about the upcoming vote on the House floor. Equality Maryland is counting on every person who supports ending the exclusion of loving same sex couples from marriage to contact their delegates and be counted in this fight to bring equality to the Free State."

Related On LGBTQNation:  Maryland delegates ride roller coaster of support for marriage equality bill