Domestic-partner registry backed by gay rights activists; Bill goes to House

By Tom Stuckey
The Associated Press
Originally published March 25, 2005, 4:36 PM EST

ANNAPOLIS -- Legislation supported by gay rights activists that would create a registry giving unmarried couples the right to make medical decisions for each other was approved today by the Maryland Senate.

The bill cleared the Senate on a 31-17 roll call, seven votes more than the number required for passage. It now goes to the House of Delegates, which passed similar legislation last year but which was waiting for Senate action before taking up this year's bill.

While the bill was promoted by gay rights groups, it would apply to any unmarried couples who want to register with the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Registration would guarantee partners the right to make medical decisions for each other, visit their partners' hospital rooms, share rooms in nursing homes, share ambulance rides and make decisions about whether to bury or cremate after death.

Most opponents who spoke during brief but emotional debate said they opposed the bill because it is not needed. Sen. Alex Mooney, R-Frederick, called the bill \"a step toward homosexual marriage\" and said its purpose is \"promoting the radical homosexual agenda.\"
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A second bill championed by Equality Maryland, which would add crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation to the state's hate crimes law, has passed the House of Delegates and is awaiting action in the Senate.
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sportinlife
Fantastic! One step at a time, sanity marches on.

The fact this is happening under a Republican governor is all the more encouraging.

Ehrlich says intent of plan that would create registry was good, but version passed by General Assembly flawed; Activists accuse him of bowing to right wing

By Andrew A. Green
Sun Staff
Originally published May 20, 2005, 9:29 PM EDT

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Friday vetoed a measure allowing same-sex couples to make medical decisions for each other, overturning legislation passed earlier this year to the cheers of gay activists and over opposition from religious conservatives.
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Ehrlich said he agreed with the intent of the bill that would create a registry for partners, but thought the version passed by the General Assembly was flawed. He said he would work with the legislature in the next session to create a registry of advance directives and other legal documents to achieve the bill's aims.

\"While Senate Bill 796 has the noble goals of ensuring that couples have access to important health-related decisions -- compassionate goals that I embrace -- the mechanism it uses, the creation a new term of life partner, will open the door to undermine the sanctity of traditional marriage,\" Ehrlich wrote.
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The governor chose not to veto a bill to expand the definition of hate crimes to include offenses against people because of their sexual orientation, and an anti-bullying bill that also offered protections for gays.

Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr., an Anne Arundel County Republican who is leading the petition drive to repeal four gay rights bills, including the medical decision making act, said he and others will continue their work regardless of the veto. In case of an override, he said, the bill's opponents would still be able to put a referendum on the issue on the 2006 ballot.

Opponents would have to collect 51,195 signatures for each bill by June 30. A third of the signatures are due by May 31.
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twin58:
Guess again.
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[Equality executive director Dan] Furmansky said it was still important to work on defeating referendum efforts to repeal the Medical Decision Making Act in case a veto override is successful, although he admitted an override would be an “uphill battle.”

Del. Donald H. Dwyer Jr., an Anne Arundel County Republican who is leading the petition drive to repeal four gay rights bills, including the medical decision making act, said he and others will continue their work regardless of the veto. In case of an override, he said, the bill's opponents would still be able to put a referendum on the issue on the 2006 ballot.

Opponents would have to collect 51,195 signatures for each bill by June 30. A third of the signatures are due by May 31.

Have they managed to defeat the override?

Group of Md. religious leaders calls for end to ban on gay unions

By Brian Witte
The Associated Press

Originally published August 29, 2005, 5:09 PM EDT

A day before court arguments challenging Maryland's ban on same-sex marriage, a group of Maryland religious leaders signed a statement today in support of marriage protections for same-sex couples.
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About 50 leaders from a wide range of religious faiths voiced support for the lawsuit at Baltimore's Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church. Together, they said it was time to end legal discrimination against same-sex couples and grant them the same rights afforded by legal marriages between men and women. The church leaders made the show of support to show that not all religious groups oppose same-sex civil unions.
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