POLL: How Will You Vote on Same-Sex Marriage?
The marriage equality law passed by the Maryland legislature this year could be headed to referendum in November.
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Opponents to Maryland's marriage equality law, which would legalize the marriage of same-sex couples, on Tuesday turned in more than 112,000 signatures in an effort to send the law to referendum in November.
The number of signatures was about twice the number needed to send the law to referendum.
The Maryland Catholic Conference and the Maryland Marriage Alliance joined forces to collect the signatures necessary to put the decision in the hands of Maryland voters like you.
The Maryland Board of Elections has about three weeks to verify the signatures.
But where do residents of Havre de Grace stand on the issue? If the law goes to referendum, how will you vote? Take our poll and start a conversation in the comments section.
TMB
8:14 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Bottom line is that it is a civil right. No one can honestly say it is a "religious right" because there are religions - even within the Christian faith - that support same-gender marriage. The minute we start picking and choosing which rights within a religion to discriminate against then we have a major problem - and that problem is state sanctioned religion (and besides, there is - no matter how much some would fight it - a separation of church and state...and it's for the very reason I just stated!). But look at it this way folks: at some point there is something that someone will not like about you and will try and pass laws to prohibit you from whatever it is they do not like (If you think I am wrong? Look at Nazi Germany). At what point do we say "ENOUGH!" and just let people the heck alone to observe their right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?"
CR Ward
7:15 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I believe in equality, everyone is created equal, before God. I am a Christian and I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman, that is the basis on our whole society no matter what interest groups try to twist around. If the gay interest groups want to have the same access to insurance and medical services that the vast majority of us have, that's fine. They can have a civil union or what ever, just don't call it marriage, because its NOT marriage. The next step is going to be plural marriage, one man and two women. If you change the very essence of what marriage is, then it becomes meaningless and we have already greatly damaged the institution through the lax laws on divorce and social mores. Marriage at the basic level is to create new families to keep mankind going, and Gays can't create new life. I am NOT for discrimination against gays, and they do have the right to get married, its the same right I have, to marry someone of the opposite sex. That's been the "law" for thousands of years, God wrote it. I will vote against any law that changes marriage and I will vote against any politician who supports it.
TMB
3:07 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Ah, your argument is a little lacking in the historical sense. Marriage, until the early 1970's, was a contract for property. The wife and the children were essentially owned by the husband. Even my mother, who at 26 had a medical emergency, had to have written permission from her husband at the time. At one time a man COULD marry more than one wife. You site the Bible... let's look at all the rulers of Isreal that had more than one wife - God allowed it. So, if we are going to be Biblical, then we SHOULD be allowing more than one wife. And let's make no mistake that at one time a white person could not marry a black person and the courts had to rule on that. Marriage has and will continue to evolve. America was not built on "one man, one woman" - instead it was built on the promise of ALL people to be able to pursue "life, liberty, happiness." The basis of our country is a Republic - which means that minorities are to be protected from the majority, and everyone having equal rights and protections under the law. While I am happy you are not bigoted, understanding the true history and nature of 'marriage' is no excuse to destroy other's life's. In essence, that is what you want to do with the way you would vote. Gay folks have families - children. Do you think they are not deserving of the same 'special right' you have to marry the person of your choice and receive the same 'special benefits'? Think about it...
Jessica
3:05 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I believe in FREEDOM of RELIGION and just because you believe one way does not mean other people should have to live by your rules . . . What do you think about couples who have fertility issues and are "unable to create new life" ? Should these people not be allowed to get married ? or what about people who choose not to have children ? Gay and Lesbian couples are able to create new life and raise children. It may not be the same way you do, but who cares . . . there are many same-sex couples raising children in Maryland.
wrote2bheard
4:37 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
"marriage is between one man and one woman, that is the basis on our whole society " Really? I thought our society was based on the Constitution -- you know, the document that says we are all equal under the Law.
Don Forsythe
7:47 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
TMB, Your statement makes a lot of since. The only thing which for some 47 years of marriage I don’t agree with is the word marriage. If couples or groups who which to be united may be call a different name perhaps United Friends? I do believe that the reason this United States was founded and governed by laws was to see that we as a nation have the rights to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I have always looked apron the word marriage as a women and man being united in holy and lawful form of life. If this is true then why is the law written that you can only have one marriage at a time? This should also be looked into because there isn’t any way that the Government will be allowing that to happen. It would really mess up the courts and IRS on how they go about trying to get taxes and property settled in divorces. I can only thank God for what I believe in my heart and have no ill felling for others as long as it is understood that they will have rights to their beliefs also without bringing down the country that we all should love and honor. We right now have many fighting for other to see that they will someday have the same ability to understand and live in a wonderful, peaceful and lawful way of live. This is just how my feels are and can only hope that other can respect other thoughts and way of life, without causing the nation to fall apart.
TMB
3:07 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Don - at one time Mormons (or anyone, actually) could have more than one wife. There was no law about marriage. It was codied into law to stop multiple marriages (especially among the Mormon population). Biblically speaking, you are allowed to have more than one wife and she is your property. So we cannot even go with the Biblical argument without taking marriage back to being the way the Bible says it should be.
I am curious how gay folks will be "bringing down the country" by being allowed to marry? If they are already living in households without the same 'special rights' that straight people have, how then would allowing them to enjoy those same rights bring the country to it's knee's? It hasn't happened in other countries that allow it.
Thank you for your honesty about your feelings however, please consider your thoughts on this. Also, consider that gay folks (like myself) have children. My spouse (that is what I call him since we are 'Vermont Civil Unioned" in 2000) would not be able to pass down his estate to me and the kids we have raised together for the past 13 years. Is that fair to us or to them because you have a certain belief? Where do we stop mixing our beliefs into our laws and say "ENOUGH!!!" and TRULY believe in equal protection under our Constitution? Honestly, having served in both the Army and the Air Force, I did not do so to protect only straight people. I did so to protect EVERY citizen of the United States of America.
Jessica
3:05 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
WE ALL DESERVE EQUAL RIGHTS~!!! GO MARYLAND :)