Calif. vote emboldens Maryland's anti-gay marriage forces

By LIAM FARRELL, Staff Writer

Published 01/06/09

Although Maryland Republicans frequently lament any time the state's actions mirror California's, Del. Don Dwyer hopes Annapolis follows the West Coast on the gay marriage issue this legislative session.

Two months after California voters eliminated same-sex marriage, Mr. Dwyer, R-Glen Burnie, will reintroduce his bill to put a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage before Maryland voters.

The legislation is a perennial, and so far unsuccessful, move by the conservative delegate, but he is undeterred heading into the General Assembly session beginning on Jan. 14.

"I'm like a dog," Mr. Dwyer said yesterday. "When I get hold of a bone, I don't let go."

California recently accomplished what Mr. Dwyer has been wishing for years by putting same-sex marriage to a vote during the November general election.

That state passed "Proposition 8," which changed the California constitution to eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry, and to recognize only marriages between a man and woman as valid. The measure was approved by roughly 52 percent to 48 percent of voters, a margin of about 600,000 people.

"It was a great encouragement," Mr. Dwyer said of the vote. "We have been considered the California of the East Coast."

Although California allows voters to proactively petition such constitutional amendments to the ballot without the support of the governor or legislature, Marylanders do not have the same power. The reliance on the General Assembly to pass a constitutional amendment for consideration has led to precious little movement on the gay marriage issue.

So far, changes have been largely technical and regulatory, such as a 2007 law requiring health insurance carriers to extend coverage to domestic partners if it is requested by a customer. When the Court of Appeals overturned a lawsuit in September 2007 that was challenging a Maryland law defining marriage as between a man and a woman, legislative leaders did not believe there was enough support on either side of the debate to move beyond the status quo.

Last session, both Mr. Dwyer's bill and efforts to establish civil marriage for gay couples failed to even get committee votes, generally an indication that leadership wants to quietly kill an issue and keep it off the House and Senate floors.Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he is in favor of civil unions rather than gay marriage, even though some activists fear creating a new legal classification for gay couples will endanger or limit benefits.

Aides have not said a civil union bill will be part of the governor's agenda this session, but Christine Hansen, a spokesman, noted his priorities are still in flux.

"Nothing is finalized yet," she said.

Gay rights advocates say a bill for civil marriage will be reintroduced this session and the main goal is to pick up co-sponsors and continue the conversation with the governor and legislators.

"We didn't expect it to have passage right away," said Carrie Evans, the policy director for Equality Maryland. "You want people to feel this. You want people to understand why same-sex couples need marriage."

Momentum will gradually build every year, Ms. Evans said, and after the 2010 elections there should be enough will in the State House to have a full, public debate.

"There is an end to the road," she said. "They know in 2011 that this has to come to the floor."

Although ideologically on the other side from Equality Maryland, Mr. Dwyer said he also believes the legislature needs to confront the issue.

The delegate has attempted in the past to get around the committee system by petitioning his bill to the floor, and will try to do so again. There are not enough Republicans to get the 47 signatures needed for that maneuver, however, and Democrats are loathe to go around the committees and step on the toes of their powerful chairmen.

"One way or the other, the legislature has to deal with it," Mr. Dwyer said. "I simply want a vote on it."

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Awesome - January 15, 2009

Another irrelevant article about a policy that will never get passed in Maryland. Continuing to overlook gross corruption within Annapolis city government. Way to go C(x)apital.

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Peter D. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Neutral

I guess - January 15, 2009

I would assume that when Dwyer's constituents stop voting him into office, is about the same time he stops representing their interests in this matter.

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Johnathan Locke - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Good

Dwyer's Ignorance - January 14, 2009

And, like a dog who loves nothing more than spending its time mindlessly chewing on a bone, Dwyer focuses energy on something satisfying to his own small mind...not of actual benefit to the state of Maryland or its citizens. So, go on Gov. Wallace, stand in the schoolhouse door for your own publicity, but in time, your actions and words will be seen as senseless and ignorant.

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April Nelson - Baltmore, MD - Karma: Bad

CA emboldens Del. Dwyer - January 7, 2009

Once again I was struck to read an article in The Capital reporting on Delegate Don Dwyer?s efforts to reintroduce a bill to put a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage before the Maryland voters. Mr. Dwyer flatters himself when he says, ?I?m like a dog.? Truth be known, I like dogs and have a lot of respect for their innate sense of affection, friendship, loyalty and protectiveness; however, I have absolutely no respect for Mr. Dwyer and his prejudice against members of the gay and lesbian communities. In my opinion, Mr. Dwyer?s prejudice, as with all prejudice, is driven by a lack of personal self-confidence and self-worth that has resulted in his base need to diminish the importance and rights of others in what can only be a vain effort to raise his own sense of self-esteem. Rather than foist the burdens of his frustrations and insecurities upon others, Mr. Dwyer should seek help and do whatever it takes to develop a modicum of self-worth. I have no tolerance and I trust Maryland has no place for Mr. Dwyer?s prejudice.

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Richard Fredricks - Severna Park, MD - Karma: Bad