Like most here, I am severely disappointed in the decision reached by the State Court of Appeals in Maryland regarding the 1973 law banning same sex marriage. By a narrow 4-3 vote the Court upheld the ban saying their is no state constitutional right for people to marry despite convincing arguments from the plaintiffs that the law violated their equal rights and denied them due process under the law.
Now I am not legal scholar so I'll let others get into the legal arguments. And since I already support gay marriage I won't rehash the rationales for gay marriage that many have eloquently diared here on Daily Kos. What I want to ask is what now?
Here is where the state of recognitions of gay relationships stands in the States.
Marriage Massachusetts
Civil Unions New Hampshire
Vermont
New Jersey
Connecticut
Domestic Partnership (Full) Oregon
California
Domestic Partnership (Limited) Washington
Hawaii
District of Columbia
Marriage Legislation has been passed in California but today Gov. Arnold said he would veto the bill.
THE FUTURE
So with all that background here is what is upcoming in the near future.
State High Court Decisions
Connecticut (any day now)
California (early 2008)
Iowa (late 2008)
Marriage Legislation
California - will pass the bill again. But until Arnold is gone it will not be signed into law.
New Jersey - Governor Corzine says he want to have a debate / vote on a gay marriage bill in 2009.
New York - A gay marriage bill passed the state House but the Senate GOP blocked a vote this year. If DEMS win control of the State Senate in 2008 a new vote on the Gov. Spitzer backed bill could happen in 2009.
Vermont - will consider a gay marriage bill sometime later in 2008 or 2009 once a state commission studying the issue reports back next year. However current GOP governor Jim Douglas vows to veto a gay marriage bill.
Connecticut - Assuming a bad ruling from their High Court, the DEM controlled legislature will take up as gay marriage bill which unfortunately GOP governor Jodi Rell has vowed to veto.
District of Columbia - The new mayor Adrian Fenty support gay marriage and so does a majority of the city council. But they are holding off from passing a law because of fear the Congress will overturn in (less likely is DEMS get stronger control of the US House next year)
Civil Unions Legislation
Maryland - Governor O'Malley supports civil unions and a bill will be introduced in the next legislative session. With more liberal DEMS in control of the legislature a civil union bill could likely pass in the new year.
Illinois - A civil union bill is pending. Gov. Blagojevich supports it and is pushing for its enactment from the DEM controlled legislature.
Washington - A civil union bill is likely to be considered in the next session as a step up from the weak domestic partership laws passed this year.
Rhode Island - A civil union bill is pending but the fate is unclear.
New Mexico - A domestic partership bill will be reintroduced after almost passing this year.
So as you can see there is a lot of potential for advances in recognizing same sex couples in the next few years. Another encouraging fact is that as of this moment no anti-gay marriage amendments will be on the ballot in 2008. Florida might face one if enough signatures are gathered but even still the amendment would have to get 60% support to be passed. According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll 56% of Floridian support civil unions so I don't see 60% voting to ban both gay marriage and civil unions as this proposed amendment would. Arizona and Oregon could face amendments also.
Today had double setbacks but time is on the side of equality. And another encouraging fact is American acceptance of the concept of recognizing gay relationships is already at majority level....most Americans support the idea of civil unions. It is only a matter of time before they become fully comfortable with supporting full same sex marriage.
To keep up with the fight for marriage equality please visit this great site.
http://samesexmarriage.typepad.com/...