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Content about Recognition of same-sex unions in Maryland

April 23, 2013
Nevada Senate passes gay marriage

Nevada state Senate repealed a ban on gay marriage and passed a marriage equality resolution during which the impassioned debate Senator Kelvin Atkinson came out as a gay man

The Nevada state Senate passed a same-sex marriage resolution, by a vote of 12-9.

The resolution passed today (23 April) repeals the state text defining marriage as between a man and a woman, replacing it with ‘the state shall recognize marriages and issue marriage licenses, regardless of gender’.

Same-sex marriage was banned in 2002 when voters passed a constitutional amendment, Nevada Question 2.

January 1, 2013
During first moments of New Year's Day - Maryland gay couples celebrate marriage

Several gay and lesbian couples celebrated the arrival of the New Year with marriage across the state of Maryland

Seven gay couples were married on the New Year’s first moments, in Maryland, with thousands of same-sex couples to follow, after the state legalized gay marriage.

The couples were pronounced lawfully married at half past midnight during a ceremony on New Year's Day (1 January 2013) in Baltimore's City Hall, the state's largest city.

Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake officiated at the wedding of the first of the couples, 68-year-old James Scales and 60-year-old William Tasker.

The couple have been together for 35 years.

December 24, 2012
Illinois clergy sign statement in support of marriage equality

A coalition of Christian and Jewish clergy have signed a joint statement in favor of the introduction of marriage equality in the US state of Illinois

Over 250 clergy in the US state of Illinois have signed a joint statement endorsing a same-sex marriage bill that is expected to be voted on by state lawmakers as soon as January.

The statement was released on Sunday by a coalition of pastors and rabbis from Christian and Jewish denominations that are welcoming of LGBT people and will be sent to lawmakers ahead of the vote.

In the statement they wrote that fostering faith, justice and compassion was a key component of their roles.

October 28, 2012
New York City mayor gets involved in Maryland's marriage debate

New York Mayor Micheal Bloomberg stumps for marriage in Maryland

As Maryland voters get prepared to decide if their state should allow same sex marriages, equality advocates were boosted by a major supporter from up north: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg joined Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the state's governor, Martin O'Malley, at 26 Oct. press conference showing their support for the mid-Atlantic state's marriage initiative.

September 13, 2012
Jesse Jackson supports gay marriage in Maryland

'If you don’t believe in it, don’t engage in it. But don’t deny other people their basic civil rights'

Rev. Jesse Jackson is campaigning in Maryland in support of a November ballot measure that would make it legal for same-sex couples in the state to get married.

'The culture has had to expand,' Jackson tells SiriusXM OutQ.

Jackson, a longtime civil rights leader and a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, compared the fight for LGBT equality to past battles for black equality in the US.

August 24, 2012
Lawmaker who thinks gays a threat to children crashes boat into children

A Maryland lawmaker who thinks same-sex marriage will lead to the teaching of homosexuality in schools has injured four children in a drunken boating accident

A homophobic Maryland lawmaker has admitted to being drunk when he accidentally crashed his boat into a boat full of children.

Maryland delegate Don H. Dwyer Jr was drinking with another man on his boat on the Magothy River in Pasadena around 7pm when his boat struck a smaller vessel with five children on board.

Four of the children were injured with one, a five year old girl, taken by helicopter to Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

Two adults on the boat were unharmed.

The smash was so severe that Dwyer’s boat sunk in the river.

February 16, 2012
Maryland one step closer to gay marriage

Joint panel approves draft measure to legalize gay marriage

A joint panel of the Maryland legislature has approved a draft bill to legalize same-sex marriage on Valentine's Day.

The Committee’s approval of the measure in a 25-18 joint vote has moved Maryland closer towards becoming the eighth US state to legalize gay marriage.

The measure is expected to go to the House of Representatives on Wednesday (22 February).

February 15, 2012
Gay marriage bill to be debated on Maryland House floor

Has governor's support not known if there are enough votes for passage

In the same week that a gay marriage bill was signed into law in Washington and passed by the New Jersey State Senate, the Maryland House of Delegates is expected to debate a marriage equality bill of its own on Wednesday (15 February).

The bill passed through two House committees on Tuesday - following 11 hours of debate last Friday - and the proposed legislation has the support of Gov. Martin O'Malley.