Posted on 05/30/2012 7:56:13 AM PDT by kevcol
ay marriage opponents in Maryland said Tuesday they’ve handed in more than double the signatures required to hold a ballot referendum to squash the state’s new same-sex marriage law.
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“What we’re finding is that people are just engaged and passionate about this, even after Obama and the NAACP came out” in support of gay marriage," McCoy said. “Anybody that was on the fence is no longer on the fence.”
A similar effort is under way in Washington state, where legislation approving same-sex marriage was signed into law by the governor earlier this year. Six states and the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriage, while 31 states have constitutional amendments that effectively ban gay marriage (this tally does not include California, where federal judges have ruled the amendment unconstitutional though further appeals are expected).
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Some 57 percent of the state’s voters say they would support the law in November, compared to 37 percent who are opposed. Meanwhile, 56 percent of African-Americans say they’ll back the new law, with 39 percent opposed, almost a complete reversal from earlier numbers, said the polling firm.
(Excerpt) Read more at usnews.msnbc.msn.com ...
Extremely interesting that this backlash is occuring in liberal Maryland. Of course the “law” sill stand until the people start calling and writing to their legislators and demand they repeal it.
I live in MD. You have to understand how this works.
Although MD is a blue state, there is a significant portion of the constituency that is religious and opposed to this.
Last year, the measure was tabled in the legislature when it failed to get out of committee. Even the legislator who introduced the measure voted AGAINST it when it came to a vote - just to save her phoney baloney job.
This year, the legislature is not up for election, so Guv O’Malley pushed it thru and signed the bill. BTW, he has delusions that he will be presidential timber in 2016 - even though 70% of MD residents DO NOT think he would be a good prez.
As of now, it is law and goes into effect in January. BUT, the required number of signatures have been gathered and the law will be up for referendum in November.
If MD residents vote against the law - it is dead. Just like it never was passed in the first place. Vote will be tight - less than 5% points, but there is a good chance that it will be repealed.
Same for the MD DREAM Act. It is also up for referendum and has a better chanced of being repealed.
The MD Court of Appeals decided gay divorce within MD on Article IV of the US Constitution.
Article IV:
Section 1.
Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.
Section 2.
The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.
The MD Court of Appeals interpreted this to mean that MD had to recognize gay marriages certified by other states, even though gay marriage is not permitted in MD.
As such, gay married couples who move to MD [and then want to divorce] are allowed to do so since MD recognizes these out-of-state gay marriages as valid in MD.
The MD Court of Appeals ruling is the law as of now, notwithstanding acts of the legislature and/or further judicial review at higher levels.
OTOH, gay marriage [within MD] itself will be up for referendum in November. As of now, it will be legal in January - unless overturned at the ballot box.
'Course, the MD Court of Appeals could then step in and declare the repeal [if passed at the ballot box] as unconstitutional - which would then put MD in line [along with CA] on the way to SCOTUS for a final decision.
That’s an interesting decision by your court. Would I be presumptuous to conclude the same court would likewise agree that a person who moves to Maryland from another state where they possess a concealed carry permit, your court would respect that out of state legal status?
The Definition of Marriage needs to be elevated to Constitutional status via amendment. There are already 31 states with their constitutions aligned. An amendment would require 38 for ratification. With a determined campaign, we could get them. And put this abomination to rest once and for all.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
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