We have surpassed the halfway point in the 2010 Maryland General Assembly and in the weeks to come it will be do or die time for bills ranging on a number of subjects. Today, in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee we will be hearing a number of bills dealing with the definition of a marriage.

Last week you may have heard that Attorney General Douglas Gansler issued an opinion that ran contrary to current Maryland law which states that marriage is between one man and one woman. Attorney General Gansler said that same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions should be legally recognized in Maryland.

The Associated Press explained:
“While the opinion does not change the law, it can guide state officials. The attorney general’s office would defend a state agency in court for recognizing a same-sex marriage from another state.”

The Attorney General is not a legislator. The matter of recognizing out-of-state gay marriages is one of the bills we will be hearing today.

I have co-sponsored Senate Bill 852 which would codify that same-sex marriages performed out-of-state will not be recognized in Maryland. Simply put, I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Another bill, Senate Bill 582, before us tomorrow would change our marriage law to read that marriage is a union between “two individuals” instead of between “one man and one woman.”

I urge you to call or e-mail members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee with your thoughts. You can find all of our e-mail addresses by clicking on our names found here.

I have heard from so many of you about so many of the issues facing the Maryland General Assembly this year and I appreciate the kind words and support. I look forward to working even harder in these remaining weeks to serve you.

Sincerely,

Nancy