Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler became the first statewide elected official to endorse gay marriage legislation Thursday but said lawmakers lack the “political courage” to pass the controversial measure this year.
Gansler said the acceptance of gay marriage was inevitable during testimony before a packed state Senate committee room. But the Democrat predicted lawmakers would likely approve a more moderate civil union bill that grants homosexual couples fewer benefits and protections.
“It?s wrong to discriminate against people, particularly because they think differently or because of their sexuality or because of their gender,” Gansler said. “And that?s what we?re doing here.”
State lawmakers are considering proposals to legalize gay marriage by removing gender language from the state?s marriage law or replacing the word “marriage” with “domestic partnership.”
Another proposal would legalize civil unions, which are not recognized in other states. Gov. Martin O?Malley supports civil unions.
Some Republicans, led by Anne Arundel County?s Janet Greenip, are backing a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and woman.
The proposals drew passionate testimony from both sides of the issue, including Kathleen Crank, who cried and said she was against gay marriage because of a friend who died of complications due to AIDS.
“This lifestyle is devastating to those in it and devastating to those around them,” Crank said. “In every other area, we work to prevent unhealthy behavior, not sanction it with the force of law.”
Some Republican committee members suggested legalizing gay marriage would also require the legalization of polygamy, incest or even some cases of statutory rape.
The proposal would not require religious institutions to recognize or perform gay marriages, said Sen. Richard Madaleno, who sponsored the legislation and is openly gay. Madaleno was backed by other gay-rights supporters like Barbara Fishback, who said her two sons came out as gay after years of stifling their sexuality.
“I don?t want them to live alone without that special person to share their joys and sorrows with,” Fishback said.
