Tag Archives: Equality Maryland

MARYLAND: Republican Operatives Charged With Illegal Anti-Trans Robocalls Against Gay Candidate

These guys were allegedly working on behalf of nutcase white supremacist Michael Peroutka [photo]. The Baltimore Sun reports: Maryland’s state prosecutor on Thursday charged two Republican strategists with distributing an illegal robocall considered by many an attempt to smear an openly gay local candidate in 2014. Prosecutor Emmet Davitt announced charges against Dennis Fusaro, a national Republican figure best known …

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Prison For Maryland Televangelist

Infamous Maryland-based televangelist Robert Freeman, known on television as Dr. Shine, has been sentenced to prison for doing what all televangelists do. Robert J. Freeman, a.k.a Dr. Shine, is going to jail for 27 months and was ordered to pay $630,000 to four church members. The Washington Post reports that the ‘Gods Top Gun of deliverance’ pastor lied to bankruptcy …

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Matt Baume: Marriage News Watch

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Equality Maryland Faces Shutdown

Shortly after the failure of Maryland’s marriage equality bill and a gender identity measure, Equality Maryland is facing shutdown over financial problems. Chris Geidner reports at Metro Weekly: Equality Maryland could shut down operations at the end of June if it does not collect $20,000 to $25,000 in donations to cover operating expenses, according to members of the statewide LGBT-advocacy …

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MARYLAND: Trans Bill Passes House

This afternoon the Maryland House approved its transgender rights bill by a vote of 86-52. As you might expect, the debate got ugly at times, with one House member saying, “Do we really want Klinger in charge of our daycares?” Equality Maryland reports via press release: “Today we thank Delegates Pena-Melynk and Kelly for their tremendous leadership. We are proud …

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MARYLAND: Trans Rights Bill Advances

This morning a Maryland House committee voted 15-8 to advance its Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act to the full chamber. Equality Maryland reports via press release: House Bill 235 would add gender identity to the state’s anti-discrimination laws in the area of employment, housing, and credit. The subcommittee approved a few non-substantive amendments which the lead sponsor, Equality Maryland, and the …

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Maryland Marriage Failure Reactions

Equality Maryland While we are disappointed the House did not vote to pass marriage equality today, we are confident we will win in the future. With so much at stake today for thousands of Maryland families, we are thankful that our legislative allies have taken such care with this vote. It is best to delay this historic vote until we …

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MARYLAND: Marriage Bill Dies In House

It wasn’t going to pass so it was “sent back to committee.” The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to effectively kill for this year a bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage in Maryland. The House approved on voice vote a motion to send the bill back to the Judiciary Committee, an acknowledgment by supporters that it did not …

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LISTEN: Final Maryland Marriage Debate

Audio only is here. Things are about to start.

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A Note From Equality Maryland

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MARYLAND: Marriage Bill Survives Four Hostile Amendment Attempts

After voting down four hostile GOP amendments, the Maryland House of Delegates has just voted to advance its marriage equality bill to a third (and possibly final) reading tomorrow. Here are the failed poison pills offered by the enemies of equality: Amendment 1: “This Act may not be construed to require an entity to provide adoption, foster care, or social …

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Tweet Of The Day – Equality Maryland

Equality Maryland tweets that the marriage debate before the full House of Delegates is scheduled to begin at 10am tomorrow. They also note that those red-caped whackjobs from the Society for the Defense of Tradition are currently playing their bagpipes outside the state house.

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BREAKING: Maryland House Judiciary Advances Marriage Equality Bill 12-10

After fighting off a myriad of poison pill amendments put forward by the GOP, the Maryland House Judiciary Committee has just advanced its marriage equality bill to the full chamber. Equality Maryland sends this press release: “Marriage provides a critical safety net for families. With this favorable vote from the committee on SB 116, we’re one step closer to providing …

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MARYLAND: House Marriage Waffler Sam Arora Now Says He’ll Vote Yes

Maryland House Delegate Sam Arora, who yesterday caused quite the furor over indications that he was going to vote against the marriage bill he cosponsored, now says he’s back on board. I have heard from constituents, friends, and advocates from across the spectrum of views and have thought about the issue of same-sex marriage extensively. I understand their concern—this is …

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MARYLAND: Former Marriage Backer Now Wants Bill Changed To Civil Unions

Maryland Delegate Tiffany Alston, one of the key needed votes on the House judiciary committee, is backing away from her promise to support marriage equality. Now Alston says civil unions are the way to go. Delegate Tiffany Alston, D-Prince George’s, delayed a vote on the bill Tuesday morning by skipping the session in protest. On Thursday, she said she is …

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MARYLAND: Marriage Bill Back On Track?

After two days of delays and some minor panic due to two wayward Democrats, marriage equality backers in Maryland now think the bill will advance out of the House judiciary committee tomorrow. But it will be a squeaker. Delegates Tiffany Alston, Prince George’s County Democrat, and Jill Carter, Baltimore city Democrat, said Wednesday that they are ready to cast votes …

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NOM’s Maryland Mailers

The Washington Blade has the story.

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MARYLAND: House Judiciary Committee Set To Vote On Marriage Today

UPDATE: Worryingly, the vote has been delayed. One of two legislators who went missing Tuesday morning for a committee vote on Maryland’s same-sex marriage legislation said they are withholding their votes on the bill to gain “leverage” on unrelated issues they consider equally important. Del. Jill Carter (D-Baltimore) told reporters Tuesday afternoon that she and Del. Tiffany T. Alston (D-Prince …

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MARYLAND: Mormon Army Doctor Testifies On Behalf Of His Gay Son

JMG reader Michael writes to tip us to the video of his father’s marriage equality testimony before the Maryland House of Delegates last week. Michael’s dad is an active Mormon, a physician, and a colonel in the U.S. Army. Watch this.

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MARYLAND: Marriage Backers Concerned Over “Eroding” House Support

The coming marriage equality vote in the Maryland House of Delegates is now thought to be in jeopardy due to a ferocious campaign by anti-gay Christianists. Only a couple of days ago the vote was considered to be an easy win. Lou Chibarro reports at Washington Blade: Backers said that as of this week, the number of delegates who have …

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