Comments on: O’Malley flip-flopping on marriage bill?

By: Judd

Judd — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:30:17 +0000

I believe an examination of Governor O’Malley’s record is more than adequate to motivate any LGBT individual to vote for his re-election. During his term, he has signed Domestic Partnership legislation into law, enacted Domestic Partner benefits for State Employees, barred discrimination against transgender State Employees and taken action to change regulations to comply with the Attorney General’s order to recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state.

I do not believe we would have made ANY of these advances had Governor Ehrlich been elected for a second term.

Additionally, I believe this dialogue should refrain from involving any members of the Governor’s family.

I urge your support of Governor O’Malley for reelection in November as I believe he will continue to support the LGBT community.

Judd
Cambridge, MD

By: Maryland Governor backtracks on support for marriage | States that allow Gay Marriage

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:29:33 +0000

[...] That prompted Washington Blade editor Kevin Naff, who was told by O’Malley in an on-the-record 2007 interview that he would most definitely sign a marriage equality bill , to follow up with the governor. [...]

By: Help us, Help You!

Help us, Help You! — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:35:04 +0000

The sad thing is that O’Malley is not gaining anything by spouting off yet again about being for civil unions, instead of marriage. He has signed several bills to provide relationship recognition and supported domestic partner benefits. So the anti-equality folks are already against him. By backpedaling on his commitment to sign the marriage equality bill he is simply insulting and upsetting the gay community. This could lose him voters, since mid-term elections already have low turnout. This will definitely lose him donors and supporters. He should help himself by standing by the LGBT community so that we are able to stand by him – not just with votes, but also with money and time. It is the good, old “help us, help you”.

By: Don't Take Us for Granted!

Don't Take Us for Granted! — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 19:31:38 +0000

JAM – It is going to take a lot of hard work to get the bills out of the General Assembly. We need to know that the governor will live up to his promise to sign the bill. Furthermore, the leadership is going to be hesitant to let the bill move if they think it will be vetoed.

customartist – I am sick and tired of hearing “what’s the alternative” as if because Ehrlich is so bad, O’Malley can do and say whatever he wants with no consequence. He has to be held accountable for breaking his promise. Sure we may push the “yes” button on him in November, but we do not have to donate or volunteer AND we should not sit idly by as we are sacrificed because he thinks he can gain a few votes.

By: customartist

customartist — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:29:43 +0000

So what’s the plan? – seriously. How to make a/any candidate live up to his vows? Seems impossible, except for gays to vow to withhold votes for those who withhold their votes for us. In the end, Conservatives will never help Gays.

By: JAM

JAM — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:34:16 +0000

I wonder what the alternative to supporting O’Malley would be… Ehrlich? While you remain unsure whether Governor O’Malley would sign a marriage equality bill, you can be certain the a Governor Ehrlich would NOT. Yes, we need to hold our representatives accountable, but we still need to make the best choice between the candidates. Let’s not put the cart before the horse, either. We have to first get the marriage bills out of the House and Senate committees and get it to pass a full vote. Let’s focus on getting rid of those representatives that are clearly opposed to marriage equality so that we can actually get a marriage bill to the governor’s desk and hold him to task at that point.