advertisement
advertisement
|
Friday, May 09, 2008
To the Editors: Re: “What happened to marriage in Maryland?” (news, April 18)
Following the devastating Court of Appeals decision in 2007, the fight for civil marriage equality moved to the Maryland Legislature. Maryland’s committed same-sex couples and their families need and are entitled to the full protections of civil marriage.
Although we have seen serious problems with civil unions in states like
New Jersey, there is no question that civil unions in Maryland would be a very significant step forward for our families. However, there is a misperception about the political realities in Maryland that must be immediately dispelled: that civil unions were a viable option in the 2008 legislative session neglected by marriage equality advocates.
The strategic hurdles facing civil unions in the Maryland Legislature are the same as those facing civil marriage. Due to this stark reality, there was no viable civil unions alternative. Those holding the key votes on the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and in the Senate at large made it clear during the session that they would not support civil unions, something less than civil unions, or civil marriage.
Missed opportunities for leadership that could have made the difference this session have been accurately identified. With the leadership of Gov. Martin O’Malley, for instance, civil unions might have been a viable option. For that matter, with support from Maryland’s political leadership for equal protection for all Maryland families, the legislature could have enacted the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.
Equality has always been one of America’s highest pursuits and most difficult challenges. Our constant struggle to achieve it and maintain it has been most successful when the push of unwavering advocates from behind is coupled with the pull of political leaders from the front. Maryland’s LGBT constituents and supporters are right to ask their elected leaders why they aren’t pulling with us, for us and for full equality under the law.
Baltimore
Editors’ note: The writer is legislative director of ACLU of Maryland.
To the Editors: Re: “Gay Dems working to re-elect San Diego’s GOP mayor” (news, May 2)
I am a lesbian activist in San Diego. It’s true that some members of our LGBT community are supporting Mayor Jerry Sanders, but I am certainly not one of them.
It indeed was nice the mayor supported San Diego City Council’s resolution backing the friend of the court brief in California’s same-sex case. By the way, it was already supported by the city attorney who had been advocating in favor of the resolution. And it is always nice when a father validates his daughter for the person she is.
But as a Republican, Sanders holds on to the Republican platform and agenda. He is not a friend of city employees or labor union rights. He is cutting many city services important to the citizens. He has backed George Bush and is backing John McCain.
Unfortunately, the other candidate, Steve Francis, is no better. Deciding whom to vote for between these two is like choosing between having the measles or the chicken pox. They both make you sick.
San Diego
To the Editors: Re: “Gay Dems working to re-elect San Diego’s GOP mayor” (news, May 2)
The article by Rebecca Armendariz about “gay Democrats for Mayor Sanders” was factually correct.
However, there are many gay Democrats here in San Diego who will not support him. The official LGBT Democratic club of San Diego, the San Diego Democratic Club, with more than 500 members, has not endorsed Mayor Sanders for re-election. The “GLBT vote” group mentioned in your article is a “group” I have only seen in past years, sponsoring ads for re-election of certain hand picked candidates.
San Diego
To the Editors: Re: “Evidence lacking for hate crime charge in Newark slayings” (news, May 2)
Reading about those poor kids and how they were murdered was a terrible crime and there is no question they should be punished under the law.
The parents should also be found guilty for allowing their children to explore the thought of owning guns. My heart goes out to the victims that were shot. The parents of the shooters are guilty of neglect.
Port Richey, Fla.
|
