Maryland Legislator Proposes Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Bill

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1/15/10-by Paula Brooks
A Maryland state delegate, Emmett C. Burns Jr., has sponsored legislation that would prohibit that state from recognizing same-sex marriages validated by other states or countries.

The Baltimore County delegate ’s measure would also declare that marriages between individuals of the same sex are against the public policy of the state of Maryland.

In recent sessions of the Maryland General Assembly, legislators opposed to same-sex marriage have have also attempted, without success, to enact an amendment to the state constitution that would prohibit same-sex marriage regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit. The House of Delegates Judiciary Committee has, in the past, rejected those efforts and prevented any of the bills from going to the Maryland House floor for debate.

Currently Maryland does not recognize same-sex marriage, but does permit a limited form of domestic partnership in the state.

Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler is also presently drafting an advisory opinion on whether Maryland is legally required to recognize same-sex marriages lawfully performed in other jurisdictions and counties.