FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2006

Contact:
Dan Furmansky, Executive Director, Equality Maryland
Office: (301)587-7500
Cell: (301)461-4900
Email:  dan@equalitymaryland.org

Religious Leaders to Convene in Annapolis to Oppose Anti-Gay Constitutional Amendment

Clergy from Across the State Represent Broad Opposition to Amendment Banning Marriage and Legal Protections for Same-Sex Couples

ANNAPOLIS – In a show of support that challenges the public’s stereotypical impressions of religious leaders, Maryland clergy will convene in Annapolis Tuesday, January 24 to advocate in favor of gay-rights efforts.  These religious leaders – from many faith traditions – oppose the proposed Maryland constitutional amendment banning any legal protections for gay and lesbian couples, calling this legislation immoral and an example bad public policy. 

"It is vitally important to show Marylanders that people of faith also believe in equal rights and equal protection under the law for all, including families headed by same-sex couples," said Rev. Andrew Foster Connors, Pastor of Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, where Lisa Polyak and Gita Deane, lead plaintiffs in a marriage lawsuit against the state, are members. "This is an ongoing dialogue, and social progress on this issue may take time, but we are committed to changing hearts and minds, and we will persevere."

Religious leaders will hold a press conference at 9:45 a.m. at the St. Anne’s Episcopal Parish Hall, 199 Duke of Gloucester St.  Equality Maryland, the state’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy organization, is working with clergy to coordinate the event.  After the press conference, participants will deliver to the General Assembly a letter from clergy across the state who oppose the amendment.  The signatories represent varied denominations and faiths from across the state, including American Baptist, United Methodist, Roman Catholic, Unity Fellowship, Evangelical Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Quaker and Unitarian Universalist, as well as Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism.

Confirmed speakers at the press conference will include Ron Halber, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington; Rev. Dr. John R. Deckenback, Conference Minister, Central Atlantic Conference, United Church of Christ; Reverend John Crestwell, Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church, Camp Springs; Rev. Anthony McCarthy, Associate Pastor, Unity Fellowship Church, Baltimore.  Afterwards, the clergy will meet with legislators about this issue.   

"A marriage license from the state confers no religious blessing, there is no religious requirement for obtaining a marriage license and, in fact, 40% of legal marriages in Maryland are performed by a clerk of the court or judge,” said Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky.  “While these clergy would undoubtedly perform a marriage for a same-sex couple, no matter what happens in this state on this issue, clergy will always have the constitutional right to refuse to perform a marriage with which they disagree, and that’s just the way it should be.

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Equality Maryland is Maryland’s largest LGBT civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland. Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.