Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Three couples tied the knot at the Anne Arundel Circuit Court in Annapolis.
Three sets of newlyweds became the first same-sex couples to say "I do" inside the chapel at the Anne Arundel Circuit Courthouse in Annapolis on Wednesday. Marylanders voted to uphold a law legalizing gay marriage in November, but it didn't take effect until Tuesday. With state offices closed for New Year's Day, Wednesday was the first time couples could marry at the courthouse. "It's kinda weird right now," Shantel Graves said. "It's kinda like I never saw her before; never kissed her before. It's all brand new." Graves married Jerica Pope, her girlfriend of three years, in a private ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. The couple plans to have a formal wedding and reception near their home in Glen Burnie in April. When they got engaged, the …
Downtown Annapolis was filled with people who came to protest a demonstration against same-sex marriage by four members of the Westboro Baptist Church on Wednesday.
More than 250 counter-protesters greeted four members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) with signs, church hymns and cookies in Annapolis on Wednesday morning. The WBC group came to Maryland's capital to protest at the Anne Arundel Circuit Court on Church Circle against same-sex marriage. The church and its members have made headlines for years by picketing the funerals of soldiers, according to the Huffington Post. This isn't the first time the Kansas-based group has visited Anne Arundel County. Patch covered WBC's visits to Fort Meade in 2011 and Glen Burnie in 2012: Maryland voters upheld a law legalizing gay marriage in November, but the law took effect Tuesday. Since state offices were closed for New Year's Day, …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Married same-sex couples who reside in Maryland can file jointly in 2014.
Same-sex married couples in Maryland will be able to file joint tax returns but they'll have to wait a year to do so. Comptroller Peter Franchot said Wednesday in a statement that "same-sex couples in the State of Maryland – whether married in this state or in other states – will have the opportunity to file joint tax returns for Tax Year 2013, and will receive the same state tax treatment as any married couple." The comptroller issued the statement a day after a Washington Times story reported that same-sex couples in Maryland would not be eligible to file jointly. Franchot said the story "contained significant misinformation regarding the tax filing status of same-sex couples in Maryland." That story raises questions about Maryland's tax…
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The licenses will become effective on Jan. 1, 2013.
Beginning Thursday (today), same-sex couples can get marriage licenses in Anne Arundel County. "We've had two same-sex applications applied for today already," Circuit Court Clerk Robert Duckworth said. "I think the word is just getting out as to the availability of this process." That process includes a holding period that restricts the licenses validity until Jan. 1, 2013. Same-sex marriage was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley on March 1 and voters upheld the law on election day by approving Question 6. After the law was upheld, there was a question as to whether same-sex couples would be able to receive a license before Jan. 1, the day the law officially goes into effect, according to The Baltimore Sun. Because marriage licenses …
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
DREAM Act, expanded gambling and congressional redistricting also survive referendum challenges.
UPDATED (2:26 a.m.)—Same-sex marriage is the law in Maryland. The passage of the controversial law was the biggest win among a list of six other statewide ballot questions including the DREAM Act, expanded gambling and congressional redistricting that all also passed. Gov. Martin O'Malley took to the podium to address the Question 6 victory party at The Soundstage in Baltimore early Wednesday to chants of his last name. O'Malley thanked the crowd for all they had done "in this noble battle to move Maryland Forward." The governor praised supporters for all their hard work and for securing support for the controversial ballot question by talking to their families and their religious institutions. "You were carrying this banner of human …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
How will you vote on the Congressional redistricting plan on Nov. 6?
In addition to more notable referendum questions such as same-sex marriage, DREAM Act and expanded gambling, Maryland voters will also be asked to decide the fate of the state's recently redrawn congressional districts. Earlier this week, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced he intends to vote against the maps and asked voters to do the same. The comptroller said the recent maps drawn by Gov. Martin O'Malley and approved by the General Assembly are unfair and make Maryland "the poster child for gerrymandering." A spokeswoman for the governor noted that the maps have survived a number of challenges in the courts and that the process used to create them is legally sound. Voters on Nov. 6 will be asked to vote for the referred law or against …
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The law goes to the governor for signature and a likely referendum challenge.
The Maryland State Senate passed same-sex marriage by a 25-22 vote Thursday night. The passage of the bill comes less than a week after the House of Delegates passed the identical bill. The bill now goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature. The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013 is expected to face a referendum challenge and could end up on the November ballot along with the bill that grants in-state tuition rates to some children of illegal immigrants. How they Voted—Anne Arundel County: James Rosapepe, D, 21 Yes John Astle, D, 30 No Bryan Simonaire, R, 31 No James DeGrange, D, 32 No Edward Reilly, R, 33 No How they Voted—Prince George's County: James Rosapepe, D, 21 yes Paul Pinsky, D, 22 Yes Douglas Peters, D, 23 No Joanne…
Friday, February 17, 2012
The minimum of 71 delegates needed to pass the legislation voted to approve the bill.
It was close, but the Maryland House of Delegates voted to approve a same-sex marriage bill Friday night that was a priority for Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley. Legislators passed the Civil Marriage Protection Act with 72 votes in favor and 67 delegates voting against the legislation. The bill needed a minimum of 71 votes to pass. The total was originally reported as 71 votes in favor because a technical glitch locked out Del. John Bohanon’s vote in favor of the bill. Just two Republicans—Dels. Wade Kach and Robert Costa of Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties, respectively—voted in favor of the bill. A similar bill died last year in the House when proponents failed to secure the needed votes and were forced to return the bill to committee…
S C Eastport
8:16 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Congratulations to ALL loving couples who are getting hitched! I'm proud to live in a state that is offering equality to ALL of her citizens! more ›