Maryland gay rights
Ten years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, and the case began with a couple who got married on the tarmac at BWI Airport.
WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren spoke to the guide plaintiff, Jim Obergefell, a decade after the ruling.
He says marriage equality is under attack.
Supreme Court judgment day
On June 26, , people camped outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., waiting for the ruling that could alter history.
And it did.
When my case number was scan, I just jumped up in my seat a little bit and immediately started crying," Obergefell told CBS News moments after the decision.
A decade later, Obergefell spoke candidly about the impact.
"I think about the families that contain formed, the people who have been able to say, 'I love you, I choose you. I will love, honor and protect you,'" he said. "And I think about the kids who own a future where, before, they might not hold seen one for themselves. I think about a young woman in Tennessee who told me that if it weren't for Obergefell v. Hodges – if it weren't for that marriage equality ruling – she would contain committed suicide."
His comments approach
LGBTQ Non-Discrimination in MD: What You Need to Know
In recent years, great strides have been made toward granting the LGBTQ society equal rights under the law. Title VII of The Civil Rights Behave of began the struggle decades ago by establishing a prohibition on discrimination against individuals based on race, color, or sex, etc. But in later years, case law interpreted this act to involve a prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
According to recent polls, in Maryland, % of adults and 5% of the productive adults are part of the LGBTQ community. In addition, 20% of the LGBTQ community is currently raising families. As a result, the State of Maryland has established a number of laws to make sure that this community is protected against discrimination when it comes to employment, housing, and other essential areas of life. Here are some of the advancements made in recent years that you may need to be aware of if you are an employer, landlord, or business owner.
Fairness for All Marylanders Behave of
This Act became effective on October 1, It established Maryland as one of 17 states (as well as Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.) that have passed
Maryland Marriage Equality
Same-sex couples contain been able to wed in Maryland since January 1, On March 1, , Governor Martin O&#;Malley signed H.B. , a bill that allowed gay couples to marry. However, opponents gathered signatures to put a referendum that would have repealed the new law on the ballot. On November 6, , the referendum did not pass. NCLR worked as part of a broad coalition to assist pass the bill and defeat the referendum.
Even before this law went into effect, Maryland already commended marriages between same-sex couples entered in other jurisdictions. On May 18, , the Court of Appeals of Maryland (the state&#;s highest court), ruled in Port v. Cowan that Maryland must recognize an out-of-state marriage of a same-sex couple if the marriage was valid in the state where the couple married. Under the legal doctrine of &#;comity,&#; the court held that Maryland must recognize out-of-state marriages for purposes of divorce and for all other purposes, even if the couple could not have entered into the marriage within the state.
Information about relationship recognition in other states .
Marriage Equality
Maryland NOW was a member of the Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition. This group was flourishing in defending marriage equality at the ballot box in November Thank YOU for your support of equal rights for our LGBT sisters and brothers. Lesbian and gay couples share the same principles of love, commitment and stability as other families – they should acquire the same opportunity to get a marriage license.
People of all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples, want their children to live in a loving, stable involved home and be protected under the law.
Gay and lesbian couples want to stand before their family and friends to produce a public promise of lifelong commitment and responsibility.
A few other states own tried to create alternatives to marriage, like civil unions, but none provide the same meaning or security as civil marriage.
Religious marriage remains unchanged. Churches and other religious institutions don’t have to join anyone they don’t crave to.
Committed, loving gay couples were able to get a marriage license at the courthouse first stage in January
We are proud that the majority of Maryland voters supported Marriage Equality.
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