News:
Current Press Releases and
News Articles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2010
Delegate Don Dwyer's Anti-Equality Antics Continue
Equality Maryland Pledges to Keep Fighting Attempts to Roll Back Recent Gains
CONTACT:
Morgan Meneses- Sheets, Executive Director
410 685-6567 (office)
202 812-9229 (cell)
morgan@equalitymaryland.org
Baltimore, MD - In response to the recent Attorney General opinion acknowledging that Maryland state law permits recognition of the valid license of same sex couples, anti-equality lawmakers have tried every legislative maneuver possible to counter the legally sound opinion. So far each of these attacks has been stymied.
But sound legal advice and sheer common sense did not stop Delegate Don Dwyer from attempting to impeach the Attorney General over his legal opinion today on the floor of the House of Delegates. His resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee will be holding a hearing this afternoon at 3:00 in the Lowe House Office Building, Room 100.
"Delegate Don Dwyer's antics have no place in any statehouse - let alone in Annapolis," said Morgan Meneses-Sheets, Executive Director of Equality Maryland. "We need to show Delegate Dwyer and other homophobic lawmakers the door come this November."
In addition to his larking about on the House floor today, Delegate Dwyer is also the sponsor of a constitutional amendment that would have not only blocked access to equal civil marriage rights, but could also take back the protections offered by domestic partnerships and even strip away relationship recognitions passed by the General Assembly in past sessions such as medical decision making and hospital visitation.
"This is a key election year in the movement for equality," added Ms. Meneses-Sheets. "Through both our grassroots network and our political action committee, we intend to protect those lawmakers who have stood on the right side of history and put our stake in the ground in the districts of those who have worked so hard to block equal protections for our families."
"Only 11 days remain in the 2010 General Assembly session. Equality Maryland is committed to doing all that we can to ensure that the Attorney General's opinion is upheld and that pro-equality legislation advances," Ms. 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.