In Brief

Staff Reports

Maryland Governor Calls For Compassion & Justice In Debate Over Same-sex Marriage

MD. Governor Martin O’Malley

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- Maryland's Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley- whose made it clear that same-sex marriage legislation is a high priority for his administration- underscored a need for rational thinking and polite public discourse over the issue in a speech at the 24th National Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality held in Baltimore over the weekend, saying that there is a need for using compassionate rhetoric.

O'Malley said [...] "it’s important not to let passionate views prompt people to use “words of hurt, rather than words of healing,” adding, “Laws matter, but words also matter, and if compassion and understanding and justice are what we want, then we must choose laws and we must choose words of compassion, understanding and of justice.”

The Governor acknowledged that his call for understanding and justice when discussing the issue of same-sex marriage was in fact touched off by remarks made by his wife, First Lady Katie O'Malley, during her speech at the open of the conference last Thursday. Mrs. O’Malley, a sitting Baltimore District Court judge, told attendees “there were some cowards that prevented it from passing” referring to last year’s efforts in the Maryland State House to legalise same-sex marriage which failed. The bill had passed the state Senate last year, but stalled in the House of Delegates.

Judge O'Malley issued a statement Friday noting that she regretted the comment, although some lawmakers in Annapolis were unimpressed with her apology.

For his part the governor in speaking to reporters after his speech, confirmed that his remarks were made with his wife’s speech in mind:

“I love my wife very, very much, and for the last 20 years she has done the very difficult job of balancing a host of responsibilities and doing it very, very well, and none of us speak perfectly, and sometimes we make mistakes, and she’s had the humility and the strength to apologize for the mistake that she made in her choice of words,” O’Malley said. The governor also said he thinks his wife feels “very badly” about the comment.

The governor has recrafted the language of the legislation to more carefully address concerns about religious freedom. O'Malley told reporters he believes momentum is growing for the legislation.

“I think there is a much broader coalition in support this year,” O’Malley said. “I think as we progress, more and more people appreciate that the protection of individual rights and the protection of religious freedom are intertwined, and they are part of the effort that all of us share to reflect in our laws a more perfect union.”

The National Organisation for Marriage and a coalition of churches including Bishop Harry Jackson who has led efforts to oppose same-sex marriage in neighboring Washington D. C. held a rally opposing same sex marriage legislation Monday in Annapolis. Hearings on the bill are set be held Tuesday.

Washington State House Committee Votes To Advance Same Sex Marriage Proposal

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON -- The Washington State House Judiciary Committee approved its version of a bill to legalise same sex marriage on a party line vote Monday, with seven Democrats voting for, and six Republicans voting against. The state's Senate is expected to vote on its companion bill within days. Three GOP amendments were rejected, including one that would have added private businesses and individuals, such as bakers and photographers, to the religious exemption in the measure that doesn’t require religious organizations or churches to perform marriages, and doesn’t subject them to penalties if they don’t marry gay or lesbian couples.

Representative Jay Rodne (R-Snoqualmie), called the bill “an act of raw political power to modify the definition of marriage,” adding, “There has been no compelling justification to abandon traditional marriage.” Opponents of same sex marriage have already promised a referendum battle at the ballot if the Legislature passes the bill and it’s signed into law.

Senator Ed Murray, a Seattle Democrat who is sponsoring one of the bills, said Monday that he expects a floor vote on same sex marriage in the Senate on Wednesday. A Senate committee voted to advance Murray’s bill Friday. Before last week, it wasn’t certain the Senate would have the support to pass the measure, due to a handful of undecided Democrats. But last Monday, after the first public hearing on the issue, a previously undecided Democratic senator, Mary Margaret Haugen, said she would vote in support of the measure, all but ensuring its passage.

Both legislative efforts have the backing of several prominent locally based national businesses, including Microsoft, Nike and Starbucks. If a marriage bill is passed during this legislative session, gay and lesbian couples will be able to be wed starting in June unless opponents follow through on their threat to file a referendum to challenge it. A referendum cannot be filed until after the bill is passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gregoire. Opponents then must turn in 120,577 signatures by June 6.

Washington has had a domestic partnership law since 2007 and an “everything but marriage” expansion of the domestic partnership law since 2009.