News:
Current Press Releases and
News Articles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2010
Attorney General Says Law is Clear: Maryland Law Permits Recognition of Legal Marriages of Same-Gender Couples
CONTACT:
Morgan Meneses- Sheets, Executive Director
410 685-6567 (office)
202 812-9229 (cell)
morgan@equalitymaryland.org
Baltimore, MD - Equality Maryland applauded an opinion released today by the Office of Attorney General Doug Gansler that states that marriages of same-gender couples validly entered into in other jurisdictions may be honored here at home. The Attorney General’s opinion relies on longstanding legal precedent that says couples who have been legally married in another state are treated under Maryland law as validly married, even if that marriage was not performed in the State of Maryland.
"The Attorney General's opinion simply states that Maryland law recognizes marriages of couples who married out of state, pursuant to Maryland comity law," said Sen. Richard Madaleno (D-Montgomery County), who requested the formal legal opinion in May 2009. "While this is welcome news for those couples who were legally married in one of the growing number of states with equality in marriage, nothing in the Attorney General’s opinion changes the fact that same-sex couples cannot obtain marriage licenses in Maryland."
Maryland follows New York State, which honors marriages between same-gender couples even though such marriages are not performed in that jurisdiction. Five states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire – and the District of Columbia have passed marriage equality laws.
"This important opinion is consistent with the long-standing tradition of legal recognition of valid marriages entered into in other states. And it is a positive development that will mean greater security, stability and peace of mind for legally married same-sex spouses whose marriages should rightfully be honored here at home," Senator Madaleno added.
“The Attorney General’s opinion is also consistent with Maryland’s public policy, which has steadily supported increasing legal protections for same-sex couples and their families. In recent years, the legislature has granted approximately 15 protections of legal marriage to same-gender couples in the areas of medical decision-making and inheritance,” said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland.
“However, most of the 400+ state-level legal protections of marriage still remain out of reach to thousands of committed couples. Only civil marriage here at home and an end to discrimination by the federal government will provide full and equal protection under the law,” said Meneses-Sheets. “We call on state agencies honor the laws of Maryland by taking steps immediately to honor the legal marriages of these couples.”
“Equality Maryland will do everything in our power to see to it that the laws of our state are followed and the marriages of same-sex couples legalized in other jurisdictions are honored here in Maryland,” Meneses-Sheets concluded.
###
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.