Local
Maryland high court recognizes out-of-state gay marriages
Maryland Court of Appeals rules legally married gay couples can divorce in the state.
The Maryland Court of Appeals on Friday unanimously ruled that same-sex couples who were legally married in other jurisdictions can get divorced in the state.
The 7-0 decision comes after Maryland resident Jessica Port and Virginia Anne Cowan of the District of Columbia appealed a Prince George’s County trial judge’s 2010 denial of their divorce petition. The women married in California in Oct. 2008, less than a month before the state’s voters approved Proposition 8 that banned nuptials for gays and lesbians. Port and Cowan separated eight months later and filed for divorce while they both lived in Maryland.
Attorney General Douglas Gansler opined in Feb. 2010 that the state could recognize same-sex marriages that were legally performed in the District of Columbia and other jurisdictions. Governor Martin O’Malley subsequently ordered state agencies to recognize such unions.
“A valid out-of-state same-sex marriage should be treated by Maryland courts as worthy of divorce, according to applicable statutes, reported cases and court rules of this state,” read the decision.
O’Malley welcomed the 21-page ruling.
“Today’s unanimous decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals confirms that the policy of recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages that we have implemented in the Executive Branch is valid and consistent with the law,” he said in a statement. “To treat families differently under the law because they happen to be led by gay or lesbian couples is not right or just. Today’s decision is another step forward in our efforts to ensure that every child is protected equally under the law. As a free and diverse people, the way forward is always to be found through greater respect for the equal rights of all; for the human dignity of all.”
Michele Zavos, a lawyer with Zavos Juncker Law Group who represented Port, applauded the decision.
“We’re all enormously excited because this decision establishes marriages between same-sex couples that are valid in another jurisdiction are valid in Maryland,” she said.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal served as co-counsel on the case.
“The decision could not be better for our community,” said NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter. “The court accepted all of the arguments we presented. Although the holding is specifically about divorce, the analysis would apply to any marital benefit or protection.”
The court’s ruling comes less than three months after O’Malley signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law.
Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee on Monday signed an executive order recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages. Then-New York Gov. David Paterson in 2008 directed state agencies to recognize the nuptials of gays and lesbians who legally wed in other jurisdictions.
Maryland voters will likely vote on a referendum in November that would bar marriage for same-sex couples. Both the plaintiffs’ lawyers and legal observers noted that the ban on nuptials for gays and lesbians would not impact the court’s decision.
“One reason this decision is so important is that the court’s ruling will not be changed even if, in the worst case scenario, the new marriage equality law were to be repeated in a referendum vote,” said Minter. “Valid marriages from other state would still be recognized in Maryland. Because same-sex couples can marry right next door in D.C., this provides powerful protection.”
“Same-sex couples in Maryland can be married and can have their marriages recognized,” added Susan Sommer, director of constitutional litigation at Lambda Legal. “Marriage has come to stay in Maryland.”
A gay man was murdered in Petersburg, Va., on March 13.
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, who was also known as Saamel and Mable, was a drag queen who won the Miss Mayflower EOY pageant in 2015. Reports also indicate Sanchez-McCray, 42, was a well-known community activist in Virginia and in North Carolina.
Local media reports indicate police officers found Sanchez-McCray shot to death inside a home in Petersburg.
Sanchez-McCray’s brother, Jamal Mitchell Diamond, in a public statement the Washington Blade received from Equality Virginia and GLAAD, said Sanchez-McCray was not transgender as initial reports indicated.
“Our family has always embraced the fullness of who he was. He used the names Saamel, Shyyell, and Mable interchangeably, and we honor all of them. There is no division within our family regarding how he is being represented — only a shared commitment to preserving his truth with love and respect,” said Diamond.
“He was also deeply committed to community work through Nationz Foundation, where he worked and completed multiple state-certified programs to support marginalized communities,” added Diamond. “That work meant a great deal to him.”
Authorities have not made any arrests.
The Petersburg Bureau of Police has asked anyone with information about Sanchez-McCray’s murder to call Petersburg-Dinwiddie Crime Solvers at 804-861-1212.
District of Columbia
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Rally on the National Mall scheduled for Saturday
The Christopher Street Project has a number of events planned for the 2026 Trans Day of Visibility, including a rally on the Mall and an “Empowerment Ball” at the Eaton Hotel. Plenaries, panel discussions and meetings with members of Congress are scheduled in the three days of programming.
Announced speakers include N.H. state Rep. Alice Wade; Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Precious Brady-Davis; activist and performer Miss Peppermint (“RuPaul’s Drag Race”); Lexington, Ky. Councilwoman Emma Curtis; Rabbi Abby Stein; D.C. activist and host Rayceen Pendarvis; Air Force Master Sgt. Logan Ireland; among other leaders, advocates and performers.
Conference programming on Thursday and Friday includes an educational forum and a Capitol Hill policy education day. Registration for the two-day conference has closed.
The “Trans Day of Visibility PAC Reception” is scheduled for Thursday, March 26 from 7:30-9 p.m. at As You Are (500 8th St., S.E.). Special guests include Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nevada) and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.). Tickets are available at christopherstreetproject.org starting at $25.
The National Council of Jewish Women and the Christopher Street Project host a “Trans Day of Visibility Shabbat” on Friday, March 27 from 7-8 p.m. at Sixth & I (600 I St., N.W.). The service is to be led by Rabbi Jenna Shaw and Rabbi Abby Stein.
The “Now You See Me: Trans Empowerment Social & Ball” is scheduled for Friday, March 27 from 6-11 p.m. at the Eaton Hotel (1201 K. St., N.W.). The trans-themed drag ball is hosted by the Marsha P. Johnson Institute with support from the D.C. Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs, the Capital Ballroom Council, the Christopher Street Project, the Center for Black Equity, Generation for Common Good, and Parenting is Political. RSVP online at christopherstreetproject.org.
The National Transgender Day of Visibility Rally is scheduled for Saturday, March 28 on the National Mall at 11 a.m. The rally will include speakers and performances. Following the rally, attendees are encouraged to participate in the “No Kings” rally being held at Anacostia Park.
Virginia
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Voters in November will consider repealing marriage amendment
The Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ended on March 14.
Lawmakers have yet to approve a budget, but they did pass a resolution that paves the way for a referendum on whether to repeal the state’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Lawmakers also advanced House Bill 60, which would protect PrEP users from insurance discrimination.
Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger has until April 13 to decide to pass, amend, or veto legislation before it goes back to the House of Delegates on April 22.
Spanberger on Feb. 6 signed the bill that sets the stage for the marriage amendment referendum. Voters will consider whether to “remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?”
Equality Virginia has been working during this legislative cycle to urge lawmakers to allocate funding towards LGBTQ rights. The budget would expand funding for schools, competency training for the 988 suicide hotline, and funding to provide gender affirming care to LGBTQ youth.
“As the budget moves through conference and the Reconvene Session approaches on April 22, Equality Virginia remains focused on ensuring our victories this session translate into durable protections,” Equality Virginia Executive Director Narissa Rahaman told the Washington Blade in a statement. “Progress on marriage equality, nondiscrimination protections, and HIV care funding was essential, but Virginia must do more.”
Markwayne Mullin confirmed as next DHS secretary
Gay man murdered in Va.
Trans Day of Visibility events planned
Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session ends
Polish court rules country must recognize same-sex marriages from EU states
Queer American in Israel discusses Iran war’s impact
‘How We Survived’ panel set for March 25
Calendar: March 21-26
Small is beautiful: subcompact SUVs
