By Annapolis Notebook
Sunday, October 28, 2007
African Americans in Maryland are deeply divided over same-sex marriage, an issue that pushes many to weigh their commitment to civil rights against powerful religious convictions.
Black lawmakers are likely to confront the dilemma in the General Assembly when the legislature convenes for its 90-day session in January and is expected to take up a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Advocates say they'll turn to the legislature after their defeat in Maryland's highest court, which ruled that gays and lesbians do not constitute a protected class and urged lawmakers to debate the issue instead.
Take, for example, two Prince George's County Democrats, Sen. Gwendolyn T. Britt and Del. Dereck E. Davis. Davis has said he will be guided by religious leaders who believe marriage is between a man and a woman. Britt, who plans to sponsor the same-sex marriage bill, echoes the messages of the civil rights era that the Constitution protects everyone.
A group of black leaders, most of them heterosexual, last week announced the formation of the Maryland Black Family Alliance. The organizers pledge to push for legalizing gay unions with a campaign around the state and in Annapolis -- and change the minds of black elected officials who reject a connection between gay rights and civil rights.
"This is civil marriage, it's not just gay marriage," said Elbridge James, the group's leader and a former political action chairman for the Maryland branch of the NAACP. "We're asking legislators to put their hand on the Bible to protect the Constitution."
The activist from Rockville, who is 60, said many blacks have been traditionally so focused on other problems facing their community, including crime and high school dropout rates, that same-sex marriage has gotten little traction. "But plenty of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters have been harassed," he said.
-- Lisa Rein
Governor Warms to His Lawyer
As the relationship between Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) and Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) continues to fray, there appears to be a growing bond between O'Malley and Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D).
The latest evidence of that: O'Malley is billed as the featured speaker at Gansler's annual fundraiser next week, being held at a private residence in Chevy Chase.
Gansler said that he felt honored that O'Malley agreed to participate, wryly referring to the governor as "my client." Gansler's office provides legal representation to all state agencies.
Though Gansler is widely regarded as politically ambitious, he has kept a relatively low profile since his election as attorney general last year. Franchot, who won statewide office at the same time, has taken the opposite tack, challenging O'Malley on the legalization of slot machines and questioning his decision to call the legislature into special session next week.
While O'Malley and Gansler have not sparred publicly, they have an interesting personal history. Gansler defeated O'Malley's late father, Thomas O'Malley, in his 1998 race for state's attorney in Montgomery County. It was the elder O'Malley's second bid for the office.
-- John Wagner
Barbs From the Left
There were signs that it would be a tough crowd from the moment Gov. O'Malley arrived at the Greater Silver Spring Democratic Club event last week.
Literally.
One read: "Say 'No' to the Bush/Ehrlich ICC." That, of course, referred to the planned intercounty connector, a road project championed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) with some help from the Bush administration. O'Malley continued to support the project despite several impassioned speeches against it from leftward-lurching audience members at Wednesday night's event.
Another sign: "Stop the Bear Hunt!" That one referred to O'Malley's decision to allow the annual hunt in Western Maryland to continue this year.
Once inside the Takoma Park Middle School cafeteria, O'Malley fielded his share of hostile questions on other subjects as well, including his plans to legalize slot-machine gambling.
The tone was set by the first questioner, who said O'Malley's budget plans are not progressive enough.
"You are failing us," the gentleman began.
O'Malley remained good-natured throughout the evening, even inviting audience members to hiss at one point when he brought up slots.
-- John Wagner
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