sex marriage maryland sex marriage legally recognized maryland january state democratic representatives led governor began campaign debate law permitting sex marriage passed general_assembly maryland legislature composed senate february signed march law took effect january voters approved statewide referendum held november vote hailed watershed moment gay rights activists marked time marriage rights united_states extended sex couples popular vote rise sex marriage movement early 1970s maryland established law united_states defined marriage union man woman attempts ban sex marriage 1990s 2000s failed gain support central committees state legislature roman catholic authorities state opposed sex marriage saying deeply conflicted best interests society threaten religious liberty debates produced disputes individuals traditionally aligned causes prompted sharp criticism african american religious leaders said sex marriage disrupt fabric culture passage state recognized sex marriages performed jurisdictions following release legal opinion attorney general month analysis laws maintained analysis issued unanimous decision port finding sex marriage performed state considered equal valid state law despite earlier decision court upheld statutory ban sex marriage constitutional history maryland holds unique place history sex marriage united_states state nation define marriage union man woman banning sex marriage general_assembly passed law short time voters state ratified article maryland declaration rights commonly referred equal rights amendment november constitutional provision prohibited discrimination equality rights basis sex 1990s attempts ban sex marriage pass legislature maryland house delegates committee voted march reject pair marriage bills submitted constitutional amendment sex marriage voters sex marriages performed state foreign country filed lawsuit challenge existing law behalf sex couples man partner died lead case received learning specialist partner environmental engineer applied marriage licenses different maryland counties denied court officials complaint argued state statutory ban sex marriage violated constitutional process equality sex discrimination maryland declaration rights january judge granted summary judgment writing family law article maryland declaration rights based gender suspect class narrowly tailored serve compelling governmental interests added tradition social values support adequately statutory classification tradition guise prejudice animosity hides legitimate state interest judge immediately stayed decision pending appeal attorney general maryland occurred later day decision favored gay rights groups supporters including religious leaders child welfare advocates state filed local religious leaders evangelical ministers upset decision looked state legislators propose constitutional ban sex marriage amendment favored governor said politics clear going protect marriage traditional marriage february proposed ban rejected opponents successfully amended civil unions consequently delegate introduced resolution judge alleging office neglect duty trial court decision introduced law ban discussion sex unions public schools said clear attempt judges judiciary legislature president said basis fact law exists support suggestion recent decision sex marriage attorney called resolution dangerous response fringe measures failed pass committee maryland highest court agreed hear state appeal bypassing intermediate court surprise spectators questions judges oral argument took place december causing speculation court taken appeal reverse ruling september court issued decision trial court ruling decision holding statutory ban sex marriage violate maryland constitution judge wrote statute equally barred men women marrying partners sex basis sex violate equal rights amendment era argued judge said era intended prohibit sex discrimination women apply case said matter sexual orientation judge wrote opinion stating statutes maryland barring discrimination based sexual orientation addition state lack prohibiting lgbt adoption recognition sex couples parents support argument denying committed sex couples benefits privileges marriage related rational government interest judge said case circuit court trial order settle deemed central factual issue state demonstrate broad societal interest retaining marriage traditional form opinion chief judge majority recognizing gay people suspect class need protection discrimination dismissed majority view politically empowered viewed class founder freedom marry said decision deeply flawed majority answer question denying marriage sex couples affects ability couples president called decision setback attorney argued behalf expressed hope unlike majority bench state legislature able lesbian gay couples form committed relationships loving families like couples recognition state marriages state senator requested attorney general answer question sex marriages recognized state february issued opinion month analysis state laws stating valid sex marriages performed states permit sex marriage recognized maryland law stated opinion binding courts state agencies begin immediately recognize state sex marriages said expected opinion quickly challenged court opinion garnered negative reactions republicans socially conservative democrats african american including delegates spoke opinion promised initiate proceedings attorney general reason bringing charges said statement described attorney general law roman catholic washington baltimore bishop wilmington took strong exception decision port recognition sex marriages states precedent agreed hear case women legally married california denied divorce circuit court court published unanimous ruling port marriage port virginia said viable decision court deemed valid foreign marriage marriage void crime performed maryland opinion cited conflicts arose decisions mary counties sex couples petitions divorce granted case denied decision court based state traditional use common law doctrine maryland effect laws judicial decisions state jurisdiction matter obligation respect legislative action upheld statutory ban sex marriage state senator delegates sought sponsor marriage bill legislature january died heart failure equality maryland executive director originally approached sponsor legislation said death devastating loss civil rights struggles greater person fight equality maryland continues spirit january religious freedom civil marriage protection act introduced senate version bill introduced senators day advocates held rally support bill february ultimately failed committee alongside constitutional ban introduced domestic partnerships early efforts sex marriage failed legislature approved bills granted unmarried couples certain domestic partnership rights including ability hospital nursing home visits end life choices medical decisions addition rights joint property ownership domestic partners years old able provide relationship documents joint checking accounts car coverage health insurance policies designation primary laws went effect july general_assembly considered governor stated sign bill despite urges archbishop baltimore brien requesting resist pressure said concluded individuals based sexual orientation context civil marital rights concluded treating children families headed sex couples lesser law children families headed parents february senate thought biggest obstacle passage approved bill vote proved challenge sex marriage advocates struggled gain support social conservatives southern maryland baltimore suburbs cited religious concerns debate highlighted disagreements openly gay black sex marriage matter civil rights delegate said want compare sex marriage civil rights know invaded home delegate grandson chief said civil rights issue state government deny equal protection law delegates originally sponsored bill began express doubts lobbied church going constituents including delayed bill vote house committee voting session bill passed committee chairman rarely votes committee voted favor house majority whip opposed bill despite pleas gay voted send bill committee march reconsider january referendum reintroduced general_assembly january new version bill contained provisions explicitly protects religious leaders institutions programs legal action refuse provide facilities sex marriage couple matter doctrine legislative process high profile political figures attempted persuade legislators vote favor bill including president bill_clinton vice president passed bill vote february senate passed vote february secure support desired submit law public referendum bill amended effect january governor signed bill march june referendum supporters submitted valid signatures state secretary required ballot maryland language referendum question informed voters allow sex couples obtain civil marriage license protect clergy having perform particular marriage ceremony violation religious beliefs religious faith exclusive control theological doctrine marry faith november measure passed vote november attorney general issued legal opinion stating court accept applications sex marriage licenses immediately issue december long effective date licenses specified january counties maryland city baltimore chose issue licenses ahead schedule definition marriage state maryland following marriage individuals prohibited marrying valid state economic impact study estimated extending marriage rights sex couples result net gain approximately million year state budget study drew data maryland statistical reports gain savings expenditures means tested public benefit programs increase sales lodging tax revenue weddings wedding related tourism study conducted february estimated years law takes effect maryland sex couples generate million state economy addition revenue state couples bring dozen small employers state said sex marriage good businesses helping attract retain talent marriage statistics marriages maryland increase year prior thought largely attributed sex marriage january state recorded significant increase number marriages public opinion
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