NEWSLINK: Maryland Activists Gear Up on Both Sides of Marriage Battle

Activists ready to wade in on ‘marriage’ issue

By Tom LoBianco – THE WASHINGTON TIMES, April 27, 2007

ANNAPOLIS — Activists on both side of the homosexual “marriage” issue are ready with legislation and additional lawsuits no matter which way the Maryland Court of Appeals rules on a pivotal case.

“Everybody is just waiting with bated breath,” said Sen. Janet Greenip, Anne Arundel County Republican. “The thing that bothers me is this is a very small minority trying to dictate how we do business for everybody.”

The appeals court’s seven judges heard arguments in December on whether they should allow homosexual “marriage” but have yet to rule on the case.

The Maryland Constitution advises judges to issue their opinion within 90 days of oral arguments but does not set a firm deadline. The court frequently issues opinions four months or later, after arguments.

Depending on how the court rules, both sides are prepared to file bills in the 2008 session.

Homosexual “marriage” supporters have drafted legislation for next year that would allow homosexuals to “marry” using the same system as Massachusetts, said Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland.

Marriage licenses in Massachusetts were amended to replace “husband” and “wife” with “Party A” and “Party B,” though the state’s highest court has mandated the Massachusetts legislature define marriage.

“While our efforts may be ramped up a little bit now, we view this as a multiyear campaign,” Mr. Furmansky said.

“Marriage” opponents have said they will file bills, as they have this year and previously, to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman.

Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, “believes government should not define sacraments, but rather protect equal rights. And he favors civil unions as a reasonable compromise,” said Rick Abbruzzese, a spokesman for Mr. O’Malley, who is Catholic.

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