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JOSHUA LYNSEN
Friday, August 29, 2008
DENVER
— Maryland
Gov.
Martin
O’Malley
spoke
briefly
Monday
with
the
Blade
on
the
floor
of
the
Democratic
National
Convention
about
the
merits
of
civil
unions
versus
civil
marriage,
Montgomery
County’s
upcoming
transgender
rights
referendum
and
other
gay
issues.
Blade:
Were
you
around
for
Ted
Kennedy’s
remarks?
O’Malley:
Yeah,
I
was.
It
was
very
moving.
It
was
hard
not
to
get
choked
up
when
you
watch
a
man
like
that
whose
family
has
suffered,
endured
and
persevered.
There’s
so
much
personal
tragedy
and
yet
he
fights
every
day.
He’s
fighting
now,
even
with
the
physical
challenges
that
he
has.
It
was
a
very,
very
inspiring
moment
and
everybody
in
the
delegation
was
very
moved
by
it.
Blade:
One
of
the
things
he
referenced
was
the
end
of
rivalries.
One
of
the
rivalries
that
he
cited
was
between
straights
and
gays.
Do
you
think
that
is
coming
to
an
end?
O’Malley:
I
think
the
Democratic
Party
for
many
years
has
been
a
catalyst
for
bringing
people
together
for
unity,
for
understanding
who
we
are,
one
community,
and
that
the
things
that
unite
us
are
far
stronger
than
the
things
that
divide
us.
So,
I
thought
his
message
was,
I
think,
right
on
and
a
classic
and
important
message
for
this
party
to
hear.
This
isn’t
about
us.
This
is
about
making
progress
so
the
next
generation
of
Americans
are
far
more
understanding
of
each
other
and
appreciative
of
what
we
have
in
one
another,
and
that
we
repair
and
strengthen
the
fabric
of
community.
Blade:
When
we
talk
about
that
next
generation,
at
what
point
do
you
think
Maryland
will
be
ready
to
embrace
same-sex
unions
of
some
type,
whether
it
be
civil
unions,
domestic
partnerships
or
full
marriage
equality?
O’Malley:
Oh,
I
don’t
know.
I
think
that
there
is
a
growing
awareness
of
the
shortcomings
of
our
laws
and
the
manner
in
which
they
shortchange
the
children
of
committed
couples
who
happen
to
be
gay.
And
I
think
that
there
is
certainly
an
awareness
in
the
General
Assembly
of
the
need
to
update
our
laws
in
Maryland
so
that
we
can
treat
people
equally,
more
equally,
and
closer
to
the
ideal
that
we
hold
as
a
country
that
believes
that
individuals
should
have
their
rights
protected
equally.
So
in
Maryland,
I
think
that
there’s
a
lot
of
consensus
for
civil
unions.
And
the
last
session,
some
advocates
chose
instead
to
go
a
different
route.
And
so,
we’ll
see.
I
don’t
know.
I
think,
increasingly,
more
and
more
Americans
realize
it’s
not
fair
to
children
to
not
be
able
to
have
laws
that
respect
equally
the
rights
of
their
parents,
the
property
of
their
parents,
the
dignity
that
their
parents
deserve
as
citizens
of
our
country.
Blade:
To
what
extent
during
the
next
session
do
you
expect
to
help
convey
that
message?
O’Malley:
Well,
I
believe
that
I’ve
never
stopped
helping
to
convey
that
message,
and
I’m
going
to
continue
to
do
it
to
the
best
of
my
ability.
There
were
a
number
of
bills
that
we
signed
in
this
last
session
that
promoted
equal
rights
and
equal
treatment
of
people,
and
I
suspect
that
there
will
be
more
in
the
next
session,
and
perhaps
even
another
bill
that
directly
addresses
civil
unions
in
a
more
comprehensive
sense.
And
as
I’ve
said
in
the
past,
should
such
a
bill
get
to
my
desk,
I
would
sign
it.
And
so,
we
will
see.
Hopefully,
this
November
election
will
be
an
opportunity
for
progress
and
for
healing
and
for
coming
together,
and
we’ll
see
what
the
next
session
holds.
Blade:
So
you
remain
committed
to
signing
a
marriage
bill,
should
it
cross
your
desk?
O’Malley:
Yes.
I
believe
that
to
insist
upon
the
word
marriage
delays
the
progress
that
we
could
be
making
if
we
focus
on
it
as
an
equal
rights
issue
and
a
civil
unions
issue.
And
I
know
there
are
many
committed
people
that
tactically
disagree
with
me
and
feel
very
idealistic
in
their
tactical
disagreement,
but
I
do
believe
that
the
focus
on
civil
unions
is
an
idea
that
will
garner
consensus
and
will
take
more
quickly
and
more
readily
than
trying
to
forge
a
consensus
around
the
word
of
marriage.
Blade:
Last
question.
There
is
a
transgender
rights
measure
that
is
going
to
the
ballot
in
Montgomery
County
in
November.
Do
you
expect
to
become
involved
in
that
battle
at
all
to
help
protect
the
rights
of
transgender
people?
O’Malley:
You
know,
I
think
we
passed
a
similar
bill
in
the
city
of
Baltimore
when
I
was
mayor,
if
my
memory
serves
me
correctly.
So,
you
know,
there
are
bills
at
the
local
level.
There’s
bills
at
the
state
level.
I
typically
don’t
get
involved
with
local
ordinances.
I
try
to
focus
my
attention
on
statewide
bills.
But
we
did
it
in
the
city
of
Baltimore
and
dogs
and
cats
didn’t
fall
from
the
sky.
You
know?
It
was
—
I
think
these
bills
—
I
don’t
know.
I
think
it
would
probably
be
a
good
thing
for
Montgomery
County
to
do.
I
don’t
have
the
legislation
in
front
of
me,
but
if
it’s
like
what
we
did
in
Baltimore,
it
caused
no
problems
whatsoever.
Blade:
So
it’s
got
your
thumbs
up?
O’Malley:
Yes.
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