Rocking the referendum

Equality Maryland and The Whiskey in Annapolis present ‘Rock the Referendum,’ a special concert to benefit marriage equality. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Equality Maryland along with The Whiskey, a rock club in Annapolis, and three local bands will present “Rock the Referendum,” a special concert to benefit marriage equality. Featured bands include Sweet Leda, Mama’s Black Sheep, and Frenamie.

Sweet Leda vocalist Julie Cymek explained the band’s support for marriage equality: “Sweet Leda loves love. In fact, we feel so strongly about supporting same-sex marriage that we actually wrote a song called ‘Let Her Love Her,’ which features Jay Crawdads of the band Higher Hands. I know there are many musicians out there who feel the same way, and I encourage them to shout it from a nearby mountaintop!” (“Let Her Love Her” can be heard at the band’s website and downloaded on iTunes.)

For Baltimore-based duo Mama’s Black Sheep, marriage equality in Maryland holds personal significance. The duo, comprised of Ashland Miller and Laura Cerulli, had to leave their home and travel to D.C. to be legally married in 2011. “This really is a matter of treating all Maryland families fairly,” says Cerulli. “We are honored to be a part of this event, and hope that in bringing people together through music we can raise both the funds and awareness needed to ensure Marylanders cast a ‘FOR’ vote for marriage [on Question 6] in November.”

“We are very excited to work with these bands to promote equality for all Marylanders,” said Carrie Evans, executive director of Equality Maryland. “We know that the local music fans are overwhelmingly supportive of marriage equality, and Rock the Referendum is a terrific way to engage them as we prepare to defend marriage equality at the ballot box.”

Rock the Referendum will take place on Friday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.). Tickets are $25, and all proceeds will go toward defending marriage equality in the November referendum. Tickets can be purchased at eqmd.org/rock.