Maryland Republican: Meeting Gay Couples Left me a "Changed Person"

The Christofascists love to depict LGBT individuals as perverts, predators, recruiters of children - indeed a threat to civilization. However, those who know gays as family members, friends and neighbors for the most part readily recognize the Christianists' propaganda to be outright lies. This reality underscores the importance of living one's life out and proud whenever possible. Besides wanting to punish LGBT for nonconformity with Christianist religious beliefs, opposition to the repeal of DADT and other measures is, I suspect, motivated by the Christianist fear that the more people that know LGBT individuals and couples, the less support there will be for the Christianist anti-gay agenda. One event in the Maryland legislature demonstrates this phenomenon: a Republican member of the legislature who opposed same sex marriage changed his vote after meeting same sex couples. This is what terrifies the Christianists. Here are highlights from the Chicago Tribune:

In an effort to get the bill to the House floor, a special joint committee was formed and legislators were left scrambling for seats. [Republican Wade] Kach, who had previously backed attempts to define marriage as between one man and one woman, found a space right next to the witness table.

"I saw with so many of the gay couples, they were so devoted to another. I saw so much love," he said. "When this hearing was over, I was a changed person in regard to this issue. I felt that I understood what same sex couples were looking for."

A week later, Kach voted for the gay marriage bill on the floor of the House of Delegates, one of only two Republicans to do so. Their support proved vital, as the bill squeaked through the 141-member chamber on a 72–67 vote.

Opponents of same-sex marriage now have until June 30 to collect the 55,736 signatures needed to put a referendum on the ballot in November. Upholding the law on a popular vote, experts say, will require its supporters to navigate the twisted pathways of race and religion that have stymied similar efforts in the past, most notably in California.

The Reverend John Lunn, pastor at Berean Baptist Church in Baltimore and head of the area's conference of Baptist ministers, is confident the law will be rejected in a popular vote.

Given the slim polling margins and depth of feeling on both sides, whether Maryland will hold its first same-sex weddings next January remains in doubt. Kach at least hopes holding a referendum will give the public a chance to hear the arguments anew and perhaps be converted "the way I got the message."

Should the measure be placed on the ballot, I hope as many LGBT Marylanders as possible will be open about who they are and demonstrate the Christianists are liars - indeed, have always been liars - and open more minds and hearts.