Like many, I am saddened that the Maryland House of Delegates failed to pass legislation that would have brought marriage equality to that state. Instead, religious based bigotry maddeningly carried the day with black legislators acting as water carriers for racist white Christianists bearing some of the final responsibility for the measure's failure to pass. The Baltimore Sun looks at the debacle and aptly describes the situation as a delay of justice for same sex couples. Personally, I am so over the special privileges granted to one intolerant religious view that I increasingly believe the world would be a better place if Christianity - at least as practiced by the Christianist - were a dead religion. Here are highlights from the Baltimore Sun editorial:*
The outside pressure from churches and others that oppose the legislation, which had been muted during the Senate debate, came on in full force as the issue moved toward a vote in the House.
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The issue is not dead; if vote tallies change, the bill could theoretically be brought back to the floor, though House Speaker Michael E. Busch indicated he doesn't expect that to happen. But advocates should also bear in mind that although this year appeared from the beginning like a magical opportunity, it is not the only one. Nothing will change between now and 2012 other than the steady growth in the public's acceptance of true equal rights for all. And perhaps proponents could enlist some high-profile help. In the wake of the House's action, Gov. Martin O'Malley issued a statement saying he had hoped to sign a same-sex marriage bill and that he remains "committed to working with all Marylanders to ensure that rights are protected for … everyone."
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Justice has been delayed, but it has not been defeated.
The issue is not dead; if vote tallies change, the bill could theoretically be brought back to the floor, though House Speaker Michael E. Busch indicated he doesn't expect that to happen. But advocates should also bear in mind that although this year appeared from the beginning like a magical opportunity, it is not the only one. Nothing will change between now and 2012 other than the steady growth in the public's acceptance of true equal rights for all. And perhaps proponents could enlist some high-profile help. In the wake of the House's action, Gov. Martin O'Malley issued a statement saying he had hoped to sign a same-sex marriage bill and that he remains "committed to working with all Marylanders to ensure that rights are protected for … everyone."
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Justice has been delayed, but it has not been defeated.
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My message to black legislators: non-discrimination is a two way street. If you want others to put aside bigotry and prejudice, you need to start doing so yourself. Until you do that, you are hypocrites. Not to mention demonstrating your own ignorance as you do the bidding of groups that would prefer to see you denigrated just as gays are denigrated.
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