On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Maryland's Catholic leaders (Governor, State Senate President and House Speaker) were bucking the Catholic Church on marriage. The Governor and Speaker support marriage. The Senate President is opposed, but wouldn't let the bill be filibustered last week. The article included one line that stood out:
With attention turning to the House, supporters there acknowledged Thursday that same-sex marriage has been a hard sell with African American lawmakers from Prince George's County, as well as conservative Democrats from Southern Maryland and the Baltimore suburbs.And, we reported on Friday, the haters are spewing their vile anti-gay propaganda around the State House in Annapolis. Their anti-marriage lobbying effort is fierce and intense. The opponents of marriage, led by the Catholic Church and NOM, want to defeat this bill and will stop at nothing to do it. And, there could be a House floor vote on the marriage bill this week.
At the Washington Blade, Lou Chibbaro reports that the homophobic tactics may be working. Our side has already lost one cosponsor:
A warning signal that support in the House could diminish surfaced earlier in the week when Del. Melvin Stukes (D-Baltimore City), a co-sponsor of the marriage bill for the past four years, withdrew his sponsorship.Stukes represents the gayest areas of Baltimore. He's been a sponsor of the marriage bill for FOUR years. Now, he's pretending that he didn't know it was about marriage? What a tool.
Stukes told the Baltimore Sun he thought the bill would have given same-sex couples the right to obtain civil unions rather than marriage. Once he realized the measure would allow gays to marry he determined he made a mistake, he told the Sun.
“I’m very sorry that I got on the bill,” he said.
Activists said privately that they were baffled over Stukes’ change of heart on the bill because he represents a progressive-leaning district in Baltimore where the majority of residents would not object to his support for allowing gays to marry.
Do what Andy Towle says:
It is now more important than ever for Marylanders to call their lawmakers, urging them to vote yes on the marriage equality legislation now pending. Equality Maryland has information on how to do that HERE.Call today. Call tomorrow. Call Tuesday.
There was impressive testimony on our side at Friday's hearing. One of our readers, Michael Madsen, forwarded the video of his dad's remarks.
That's the message Delegates need to hear.
Across Maryland, anti-gay messages are being spewed from pulpits today. The pressure is on. Be a part of history. If you live in Maryland, make your calls. If you have friends and/or family in Maryland, have them make calls.
