By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Jan 23 2008, 4:13 PM |
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Two state senators, including one who is openly gay, will lead efforts to pass the Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act in Maryland.
Sens. Rich Madaleno and Jamie Raskin, two Democrats from Montgomery County, were to be named as lead sponsors on the bill when it’s introduced. The bill was expected to hit the Maryland General Assembly no later than Friday.
“We’re up to 40 co-sponsors in the House and nine in the Senate,” said Carrie Evans, policy director at Equality Maryland. “We’re trying to pick up one more to make it a nice, even 50 for Friday.”
Written to make valid marriages of “two people,” the bill also makes clear that churches may continue to choose whom to marry. It was drafted after Maryland’s highest court in September upheld a state law restricting marriage to straight couples.
Madaleno, who is gay, and Raskin succeed the late Sen. Gwendolyn Britt as lead sponsors of the bill’s Senate version. Britt, who was to lead that effort, died suddenly Jan. 12 at age 66.
Also updated this week was the list of lead sponsors for the bill’s House version.
Evans said Del. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s County) stepped back from his previous role as lead sponsor and instead would help co-sponsor the bill.
“He is in mind to succeed Sen. Britt in her seat, so he’s really busy now,” she said. “He felt things were in good hands.”
Del. Benjamin Barnes (D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties) is expected to join Del. Todd Schuler (D-Baltimore County) and openly gay Dels. Anne Kaiser (D-Montgomery County), Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City) and Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) as lead sponsors.
Evans said although Equality Maryland initially sought heterosexual lead sponsors to prevent the bill from being seen as backed only by gays, many legislators questioned why their gay comrades were not listed.
“It just became very apparent that there were more questions being asked about why they weren’t there than possibly any implications of them being lead sponsors on it,” she said.
A news conference to announce the bill’s introduction was set for 11:30 a.m. Friday at the General Assembly’s Lowe House Building in Annapolis.
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