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Dignity for All: Why I Signed Same-Sex Marriage into Maryland Law

Posted: 03/ 2/2012 8:39 am

2012-03-02-marylandgaymarriage1.jpgDuring the debate in Maryland's House, I joined same-sex marriage supporters outside of the chambers who were anxiously awaiting the vote. I met two moms and their 4-year-old son Will. After standing for hours, Will was tired and seemed a bit uninterested. I could only imagine how hard it would be to understand the complex discussions as a 4-year-old.

But the next day I saw a photo of Will and his family taken right after the House voted in support of marriage equality. His little face was lit up with joy, and he was cheering as his moms hugged him with the love that only a mother can provide. Will may not have understood the debates, but his smile after the vote proved one very important thing: even a 4-year-old knows the value of human dignity.

2012-03-02-marylandgaymarriage2.jpgYesterday was a day for Maryland's children. It was a day for human dignity. After years of hard work, we signed a bill into law that protects individual civil marriage rights and religious freedom equally. Yesterday, we came together as One Maryland and showed that there is more that unites us than divides us.

Our efforts were in essence about the dignity of every child's home. All of us, wherever we happen to stand on the marriage equality issue, can agree that all our children deserve the opportunity to live in a loving, caring, committed, and stable home, protected equally under the law.

Religious freedom was the very reason for our state's founding. And at the heart of religious freedom is respect for the freedom of individual conscience.

We are a people of many different religions and many different faiths. The only way forward in a pluralistic society of diverse faiths such as ours is to have laws that protect and respect the freedom of all, equally.

That's why we joined together -- as clergy and faith-based leaders, as community activists and civil rights leaders, as volunteers, as legislators, and as citizens -- and passed a bill that provides equal protection under the law for every individual, and the free exercise of religion without government interference.

The common thread running through our efforts together in Maryland is the thread of human dignity: the dignity of work, the dignity of faith, the dignity of family, the dignity of every individual, the dignity of a free people who, at the end of the day, all want the same thing for our children.

We are One Maryland.

 

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During the debate in Maryland's House, I joined same-sex marriage supporters outside of the chambers who were anxiously awaiting the vote. I met two moms and their 4-year-old son Will. After standing ...
During the debate in Maryland's House, I joined same-sex marriage supporters outside of the chambers who were anxiously awaiting the vote. I met two moms and their 4-year-old son Will. After standing ...
 
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2 hours ago ( 8:44 PM)
While I am in favor of this law and happy for the gay community of Maryland, I don't buy this piece by O'Malley at all. He did not have the courage to push this when he was running for re-election . . . instead he proposed in-state tuition and drivers licenses for Maryland illegal immigrants, leaving the same sex marriage issue off the table. He knew that would bring him more votes from Maryland's growing Hispanic population. He bragged how financially sound Maryland was when he was receiving government stimulus money . . . now without it he says Maryland is broke and wants to raise taxes on everything he can including gasoline. Everything he says and does is for his own advancement. Hes even spent most of this year away from Maryland running the Democratic Governors Association, a post which he hopes will propel him onto the national stage. I am a lifelong Democrat, but there is no One Maryland as the state is essentially run by the Democratic party alone. This piece is simply another way for O'Malley to promote O'malley to those who do not live in Maryland . But the same sex marriage bill is great . . . even if its a little late.
3 hours ago ( 7:59 PM)
good for him! Nice to see some politicians with good common sense and who really live up to Christian values. This GOP season has just about killed ALL my faith in politics and I am sure it will just get worse but with smart men like him maybe we will be ok
thereisonlyoneparty
more amazing than you
5 hours ago ( 5:50 PM)
"Dignity" for all who desire to enter into a specific "traditional" though ahistoric union agreement that is based on contemporary morality.

Those who seek to enter into an agreement that would work better in modern society should stay away.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
vonhinger
6 hours ago ( 5:01 PM)
I don't know who they will get to marry them, it will have to be the justice of the peace in the court house, because there won't be any pasters in our church that will do it even if its the law. And if they do they won't be pasters for long
6 hours ago ( 4:40 PM)
In a world filled with hate and anger and loneliness, I can never understand the holier-than-thou hypocrites screaming about who somebody chooses to be with.
One problem, obviously, is the persistent fairy-tale of religion & what some imaginary cloud-daddy supposedly said about who we should have sex with.
Well, its time to evolve past that archaic nonsense and realize it was just some ancient homophobe in a position of power, probably trying to cover up his own gayness by attacking the gay population. (sound familiar?) Not some omnipotent being that peers in on the bedroom activities of 7 billion people with a check-list.
We have such a long way to go as a species before our intellect and compassion surpasses our penchant for violence and idol worship. If the disease of religion cant be cured we have less and less hope of survival, and a bigger and bigger chance of all dying in a self-fulfilling "prophecy" of nuclear war. For a religion that is supposed to be tolerant, there doesnt seem to be many followers that actually tolerate.
So before the righteous righties complain about the harmful effects of someone else`s lifestyle (that never even gets near them) maybe they should look at the harm their own war-mongering, misogynistic, immigrant-hating beliefs cause.
8 hours ago ( 3:05 PM)
Governor has been a good friend of gay people since (and before) he was mayor of Baltimore. He used to turn out for Gay Pride celebrations every year. So his support for equal justice and marriage equality for gay Marylanders is not some newfound political ploy. There are times to put aside cynicism and thank political leaders who have the courage of their convictions, and whose courage and convictions move society toward justice.
8 hours ago ( 2:52 PM)
Governor O'Malley is on the wrong side of this issue. I think most Marylanders believe that marraige is a sacred vow before god and between a MAN and a WOMAN. This will definitely hurt him in the next election. Don't assume that all liberals are for gay marriage rights. This is wrong before the eyes of god. God is angry and is in the process of destroying this backwards world.
2 hours ago ( 8:26 PM)
MY God doesn't have a problem with it. MY God thinks it's about time, finally, that we welcome the ostracized into our churches. If you don't think that's fair and just, you've been listening to a false god.
1 hour ago ( 9:35 PM)
God has stated what He wants for mankind, but they still reject him and bear the punishment for it in their bodies.
8 hours ago ( 2:29 PM)
Those in office on the right are always on the opposite side of history. Love will win and in 10 to 15 years this will not even be a topic on conversation.
9 hours ago ( 2:03 PM)
Enough of the mawkish hyperventilating and cooing over O'Malley. He's a lame duck governor who seeks a position of national significance inside the Democratic Party. This, and this alone has caused him to tilt leftward over the past 6 + months. Hence, Marylanders now have to fight off his proposed tax increases and expansion of benefits for illegal aliens - among other standard nostrums of the left.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Thaddeus Jude
6 hours ago ( 5:15 PM)
"Lame duck" - this word does not mean what you think it means.
9 hours ago ( 1:47 PM)
Judging from that last paragraph, I assume that Gov O'Malley is a fan of old time film star Don Lockwood who famously said "I've had one motto I've always lived by: Dignity. Always dignity."
9 hours ago ( 1:25 PM)
Governor O'Malley, the courage of your decision will be validated by history. You made the right decision. This adheres to the principles our state was founded on!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
LeftRight
TANSTAAFL
9 hours ago ( 1:18 PM)
Thank you governor for signing this bill affirming that ALL the residents of Maryland are worthy of equal rights!!!! As a man married to a woman born in Maryland, we are cheering you on and only wish that we could vote for you!
11 hours ago (12:06 PM)
Well said. Congratulations to Governor O'Malley and the citizens of Maryland who supported this initiative.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jim Mccarthy
YEAH- LIBERAL LEFTY
12 hours ago (11:15 AM)
because it was the right thing to do. being brave really isn't all that hard when the people are on your side !!!!! good going !!!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
marta76
Recovered Republican
12 hours ago (11:09 AM)
Congratulations to you and the people of the great state of Maryland, Governor O'Malley. There is hope for this country yet. Your thoughtful comments are appreciated by many of us, gay or straight.