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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2010
Marylanders Rally in Annapolis to Defeat Anti-LGBT Equality Legislation
CONTACT:
Morgan Meneses- Sheets, Executive Director
410 685-6567 (office)
202 812-9229 (cell)
morgan@equalitymaryland.org
On Thursday, January 28th at 12:30 pm, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Marylanders, community leaders, legislative allies and Equality Maryland staff will rally together to defeat The Same Sex Marriages - Foreign Jurisdictions - Invalidity Act (H.B. 90).
H.B. 90, sponsored by Delegate Emmett C. Burns (D-10), would invalidate marriages between same-sex couples validly entered into in another state or in a foreign country, declaring that "marriages between individuals of the same sex are against the public policy of the State."
House Bill 90 is an attempt by Delegate Burns to do an end run around the legal process, as the Attorney General's office is currently considering an official opinion as to whether Maryland should honor legal out of state same-sex marriages.
"If H.B. 90 is enacted, it would go against longstanding legal precedent in Maryland that couples who have been legally married in another state should be treated as fully married, LGBT couples would continue to be an exception, thereby creating yet another area of law in which same-sex couples are discriminated against," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland.
H.B. 90 is scheduled to be heard before the House Judiciary Committee at 1:00 pm. Local couples will be testifying alongside legal experts against the bill's passage and will be available for interview at 12:30 pm.
WHEN:
Thursday, January 28, 2010
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm
WHERE:
Outside of the House Judiciary Committee Hearing Room
Lowe House Office Building, Room 101
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
WHO:
Members of the LGBT General Assembly Caucus
Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Equality Maryland
Cindy Boersma, ACLU of Maryland
Many same-sex married spouses and couples
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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.
Equality Maryland can be found online at www.equalitymaryland.org.