I STRONGLY disagree with Mr. Glass. Take any moral stance you like, it is not about morals for those who want it; it is a simple matter of justice. Now that I know where Mr. Glass stands on the topic of justice, perhaps there are actions that us non-delegates who understand the issue can do to ensure he is out of a job. By the way, just for the record: there is no single--and I emphasize single--definition of marriage. Also for those who would uphold the sanctity of "traditional" marriage, a "tradition" is not necessarily the only "right" way to do something.

Oh one more thing, Mr. Glass: please open your eyes to something other than getting re-elected; there are numerous "non-traditional" families, to use a euphemism, literally all over your constituency. I hope they're watching you carefully.

So much for "liberty and justice for all." Perhaps we should add "heterosexuals" to the end of the pledge just to be clear.

Kudos to you St. John's for taking a public stand.

First off, I am VERY disgusted that as a Cecil County resident you are also my delegate, because after reading this, I do NOT like you. It is a disgrace that you serve as my delegaete! Thank you for bringing these bills to my attention though, because I will write my degelates for Cecil County in distructs 34A, 34B,and 36 and take my opinions on this matter to them because:

I do not believe that the government or a religion has a right to define marriage. What goes on in someone's home is that persons business! The government (or a relgion) does NOT have the right to dictate who someone who they can (or in this case CANNOT) love/marry!!!!!!! It is a serious social injustice; comparable to racism and predjudices against women which were brought to the forefront and began movements that included the abolishment of segregation and women's rights. Just because someone chooses to love someone of their same gender does NOT make them any less of a person, and does not make them any less deserving of a legal marriage!

(continued)
While I may personally disagree with gay couples raising children due to the effects that it could have on their emotional personality (I have firsthand experience because I have a relative who is now homosexual and raising their daughter around their same sex partner) I have no right whatsoever to tell someone they can or cannot have children, or to raise their children in a gay or straight home. The governemnt should not have the right to dictate that either.
These bills are trying to strip away people's freedom to love, and that is wrong!

Mr. Glass I hope you are NOT re-elected when the time comes!

St. John's Episcopal ~ While I am agnostic myself I applaud your church for speaking up in opposition of the oppression of the government!

I agree with the gentleman from St. John's 100%. Why aren't gay couples allowed the same rights as hetereo ones? What is there to be afraid of? "Oh my God, the GAYS are gonna ruin the idea of marriage for us all!" Seriously? How? They would probably adhere more to the typical, traditional views of marriage more so than others since they have been denied the basic civil right to marry whom they choose. Noone is trying to re-define marriage. Marriage is about love. Period. No exceptions or exclusions. And show me the statistics that prove that children flourish solely in a male/female parent household. I agree that children need two loving parents. But if it is man/man, man/woman or woman/woman, should NOT matter. As long as the child is loved and provided for. I sincerely hope none of your constituents are gay or have gay children. Would you have the same view if YOUR child was gay? Doubtful. The nerve of a gay couple, wanting to express their love for one another freely and without fear of closed minded politicians only interested in electoral vote! How DARE they want to adopt a child and give it a loving home instead of said child being bounced from one foster home to another? It is absolutely appalling in this day and age that there is still ANY form of discrimination. Your founding fathers fought for your rights. As well as everyone elses, regardless of sexual orientation. Mr. Glass, if you don't like the idea of gay marriage, don't marry a homosexual. Problem solved!

Yeah St. Johns. Well said. Who does Mr. Glass think he is to dictate what rights people should have? Traditions are great until they hurt and are unjust to people.Slavery was a tradition in this country once. And look at the statistics on marriage--how many of our children are actually raised by a loving mother and father? Balance? You obviously don't have it.

Any deviation from God's original plan for sex between a married man and woman is still a sin in God's eyes. The main reason we call these things perverted is because they are unnatural and scripture clearly tells us those who do such things are committing abominations. Leviticus 18:22 (KJV): "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination."

Sherry: You might not like it; but religion, at least most religions rely on long standing traditions not just derived from the teachings of a religious figure but clearly include a sort of "rules to live by" for a healthy, civil and successful society. If religious leaders decide that marriage between a man and man, a woman and a woman, or whatever other relationship outside of the tradition is not healthy in the long term for a healthy and successful society that is thier right. "Marriage" is a religious description; civil union is a legal one - either description affords the same rights and protections...but apparently activist gays don't think it's good enough - they want to put this issue in the face of religious leaders because they think they can win something...not sure exactly what that is. Defending traditional marriage has nothing to do with trying to exclude gays from what is just and fair, but these activists want to paint it that way because thier end goal is stomping on traditional religious standards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbmbdWK6338&sns=fb

If marriage and civil unions were the same thing then the court house would issue only civil unions for all. I think you will soon find Mr. Glass how antiquaited your views and uneducated your opinions are. What is it that those that are against marriage equality are so afraid of? What in your home or in your life would this change? I think I would understand more if folks were going after those (ie; Kardashien, Britney Spears, etc.) that make a mockery of marriage, but no one does and to me that is a shame!

No Eric...that is not true. If most religions sanction marriage as a religious ceremony..but won't do the same for same sex unions, but civil unions satisfy the same rights and responsibilities other than trying to tear down religious traditions what's the point? Men and women who decide to marry in the church do so at the encouragement of their families and thier churches..why would they go get a non-religious license?

I just wanna say that he's so concerned about children and how same sex marriage teaches kids one parent is unimportant, what about all the single parent homes? He doesn't bitch about that. What about kids who have 2 parents but are neglected and abused? Shouldn't the kid have a loving home weather it be a married man and woman or 2men or 2 women?
Marriage isn't. About. Man and woman or same sex it's about living your life in unity with the one you love. Gay, straight, transgendered, man or woman, it shouldn't matter.
I No longer live in hdg but if I did I definitely Wouldn't want him as a deligate

Karl, well aren't you the know it all. If you didn't notice, or are too unintelligent to understand, I am agnostic, I don't give a damn about "religious tradition", and please don"t try to argue with me because i know the bible, more than 1 version, I attended a catholic school from kindergarten and was forced to attend a methodist church until I was 18, hence why I believe what I believe. Karl, the more I re-read your post I question your intelligence level, seriously! Gay marriage and gay civil unions are used interchangibly, if you weren't so close minded and took 1 moment of your time to understand the gay community then you would understand that!

Further-freaking-more, i got married to appease the family of my husband and myself, I was content co-habitating or you you close minded religious fanatics call it "living in sin", I don't believe that any 2 people who love each other and want to spend their lives together should have to pay money to the government for a marriage license, gay or straight.
If you would have really listened to my point I was not making remarks from a religous standpoint, it was a point of reference, my issue is with governement we have. Its really ironic that we (the US) flock to aid inhabitants of other communist/tyrannical countries (and spend ridiculous amounhts of taxpayer monies) to fight for their freedoms, while we here are constantly having our rights trampled on, or dismissed, by the same government.

I would like to respond to Mr. Shuub,
Although the church has been in the marriage "business" since about the 4th century, it doesn't appear to have started that way. The only record we have of public weddings in a Christian context from that era are civil weddings which were unofficially witnessed by a local cleric. As a clergyman, I love to preside over weddings for an understandable reason: they are a joyous occasion. However, my firm belief is that the church should not be involved in marriage at all. Taken out of the realm of "sacred" which is different, depending on the culture in which it is used, it then becomes what it was originally: a civil contract. Indeed, if we look at the practice of our Jewish sisters and brothers, the actual ceremony, while beautiful, is not what binds the couple. Rather, it is the contract or ketuvah that the couple has signed which does the job.

Clearly several of you (suddenly new residents) object. Nobody said a single parent is optimal and I'd expect religious people would say the same by a very large majority, however that doesn't mean you can compare that to oddities.

Wow...as expected. Apparently folks can't defend traditional values without being attacked by a limited number of whomevers; including someone supposedly of the cloth...which I'm sort of doubting. Excuse me folks I didn't attack anyone here...you people have no ability, zero ability to listen to any other side other than your own.

please clarify exactly what you mean by "(suddenly new residents)" means!!!!!!!!!! And I felt personally attacked when you started your comment with my first name. and now you start demeaning the church with your "someone supposedly of the cloth" statement. You sir, you are a hypocrite. And I could care less about tradition, what I do care about is adaptation. Adaptation to an ever changing society. Gay, straight, male, female, transgenered, tattooed, pierced whatever......we are all people, we all bleed the same color!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sjerry: You seriously need to chill out. It makes you make I use your name? I've not called anyone names here - closest I came was the same comment "supposedly of the faith" but that wasn't directed to you. I assume your leather picture is actually you - sorry but leather, tattoed, pierced or whatever won't help us move forward as a healthy society.

It can't be that any word is so easily miscontrued (and deliberately) as hate. You keep throwing out the idea that everything is hate and pretty soon nothing is hate. Why is it so abhorant that religious people want to hold onto thier own definitions of marriage?

Mr. Schuub,
My last entry was a clarification and nothing more. I am sorry if it was construed as an attack; it certainly wasn't.

Karl, you seriously need to stop telling me what to do!
"(suddenly new residents)" = never explained
Leather? where did that come from? whatever!

I am done discussing this issue with you, so don't bother replying, because its late and I don't feel like trying to interpret your nonsense.

Okay everybody. Here's what everyone forgets, especially the most seasoned Christian. Jesus told us, per the Father's wishes and command, to LOVE one another. Simple yet so hard. What any of us CHOOSE, sinful or not, is between the individual and God. Free will. We make our choices. We are only to love, which is defined in the dictionary as a a verb. Active love is required, whether it be with the annoying relative, the drunk driver who injured/killed an innocent, or, God forbid, a homosexual person. It's not for us to judge or decide. Love and let God guide. For those throwing our scripture, I caution you. You use them as swords. Don't forget Jesus' acceptance of the prostitute, drunk and adultere, terrible things back in the day for a holy man to associate with. He set the bar for love. We only need to follow THAT example. Please. Can't we just have peace and accept each other in unity and love?

Agree completely Monica - for clarification - defending traditional marriage doesn't mean hating gays, or thinking gays have less rights than others, or should be thought of as anything other than people like everyone else. Have no problem with affording gays civil union status. Traditional marriage is worth saving...it's the backbone of a civil society.

Anyone who's sole argument against Marriage Equality is that it's a sin and harmful to children should remember that this country was founded on the principles of religious freedom and SEPERATION of CHURCH and STATE! There are many gay/lesbian tax paying citizens and PARENTS in this county/state and just because you may try to deny us equal rights and protection under the law does not mean we are going to go away or stop raising children or stop loving eachother.

Who's denying anyone equal rights? Can you vote? Are your taxes higher? Does anyone tell you who to love? This is solely and simply about marriage...all other references are hyperbole to gin up the issue. Civil union allows you equal protection under the law but for some reason that's not enough.

Civil Unions DO NOT provide all the rights and freedoms as Marriage does, perhaps you should read up . . .
http://www.now.org/issues/marriage/marriage_unions.html

Lets toss the word marriage back to the religious institutions and take it off legal forms. Lets call everything a civil union. If some get uptight because it's unfair, then you will understand the meaning of same but not equal.

well Karl, if a Civil Union was the exact same thing as a Marriage then they wouldn't call it a Civil Union, they would call it a MARRIAGE~!!! LOL Im all for womens rights and gay rights and even your right to disagree and comment on things that you lack the knowledge to back up.

First off Sandra, I have no issue with religion so take your opinion of me elsewhere because you do not know me. I am AGNOSTIC maybe you should look that up, I am NOT a Christian, Catholic, Jew, or Devil Worshiper, I simply do not live my life by the bible. Personally the bible to me is nothing by heresay........and this is my FREE WILL to believe what I want, I do not argue with people about religion EVER because we are entitled to believe what we choose, and when we all die we will see what the afterlife holds!
Mark, I am not liberal either. I simply stand up for things I believe in! So you can stop the name calling and belittling my education. My parents and grandparents paid a good amount of money for me to attend that catholic school and then go on to college.
Jessica, everything you said what very well said, and linking the NOW site was great! :)
Bob, you have a great point on calling everything a civil union!!!!!!!!!!!!

My boss told me about this conversation, and I thought I'd put my two cents in.
Personally, I believe that the government shouldn't have any say whatsoever of who should be allowed to be married. Whether they are gay, straight, or married to multiple people (so long as those multiple people know and agree). As far as the government is concerned, it should just be a contract between people. If you then so choose to go and have your marriage blessed within your religion, that is between you, God, and the person blessing you be he/she priest, shaman, rabbi ...
If you want to talk about tradition, we outlaw multiple marriages which are all the way through the bible. Everyone has the right to marry the person that they love. It shouldn't matter what race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity they are.

Mark, hey jerkoff my grandparents are deceased, I am not bringing you dead relatives into this so keep mine out of it.........and maybe you should take the refund idea up to my parents then, they have DEEP LONGSTANDING ties to HDG so unless you are some transplant that moved here you probably know them.....

GOOD MORNING, WELCOME TO THE SHERRY SHOW.

One thing Sherry and other like minded activists don't get is narrow minded zealotry and a big mouth; coupled with an in your face methodology won't win hearts and minds. I will never forget the "operation pink" lesbians who basically interrupted a Catholic service in NY screaming and throwing things...you think people want to listen to freaks like that or that there's any chance for a rational discussion with what seems more to me like terrorists-light? Most people accept that others can and will adopt a gay lifestyle and frankly could care less. Do whatever you want to do, but for activists they're so busy claiming thier "rights" are being taken away when most of the time they already have them. The only issue here is "marriage" and I think religious people have a right to expect thier values have some "value" as well; after all everything else has been given up...geez they teach kids as young as 6 and in schools that gay is OK. What else do you want? These people want to pick a fight because they think it gives them a voice - if NOW got everything it wanted what would all those malcontents do with thier time...

Wow. I wish the Patch would explain to some that personal attacks on threads are unacceptable. Seems the same people are on here being overly nasty over and over again. Facts only. Also typing in all caps is yelling in the social media world and displays lazy social media skills. I don't like reading posts from people who are yelling....it shows poor debate skills as well. Thanks to all those who took the time to explain what marriage means to many of us. I too was raised in Catholic schools from K - college right here in this fine city. What I remember mostly is we were taught tolerance for other religions and those who may be different. I personally have heard quite a few Catholic priests and Catholics disagree with our church and believe a same sex marriage would not destroy the institution of marriage. Not everyone within our religious community agrees with the church on many topics -- ahem -- like birth control, and a vow of abstinent for priests. I have gay friends who have been in long term loving relationships and have done exceptional jobs raising their children. Many don't care to get married...most actually don't see it as a need. Many have chosen to get married and their family and friends stood in support. Marriage is a beautiful thing when two people honor the true meaning of this special contract. I respect you feel the way you do, but not to impose your beliefs on my gay brothers and sisters who also hold God special in their lives. God is love..all love.

Mr. Glass thank you for standing up for what you believe. Someone stated that people are watching, well tha's ok. God is watching and that's who we have to be concerned about. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Those that preach other wise should not be behind a Pulpit! God Love's everyone, He just doesn't like the sin, lets call it what it is. Yet in God's eyes its no different then telling a lie or killing someone a sin is a sin, the Bibles says we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But, Jesus died to save us and forgive us of our sins. Thank God for forgiveness, it's free and for whosoever will. I'm not judging thats God's job.
Carol

So now O'Malley needs the GOP to pass this bill. When has he ever needed the Republicans to pass anything in this one party town? This bill is going to fail and he has no one to blame but the liberal democrats in Annapolis. He is using the Gay community and if I were you, I would be mad as hell. O'Malley lies and we all pay the price.

All this reminds me of the last scene in the famous Billy Wilder comedy, "Some Like it Hot", wherein Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtiss dressed in drag and ran off to Florida with an all girl orchestra to excape the mob (or specifically, George Raft). Tony winds up with Marylin Monroe, while Jack (still in drag), winds up with the millionaire playboy (Joe E. Brown).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Inp_sWsUqQ&feature=related

I will make a couple simple statements. As much as I want to verbally tongue lash Mr. Glass for his insulting stance, he is entitled to his opinion and his bigotry, as each of us are (I certainly have mine, and most of it is against “wolves in sheep’s clothing” proclaiming they own God and know God’s mind). It’s when you PUSH your bigotry onto others and try and make it law that we have a problem. Mr. Glass should learn to “live and let live” because I could insult the way he conducts himself very easily and find Bible verses to back me up. I won’t go there. I am sure, at his core, he is a good man.
I am a gay man, in a well established relationship (Civil Union, VT, Aug 2000). We have two children. WE ARE A FAMILY. As much as everyone wants to insult that and put us down, it simply doesn't take away who and what we are. And it doesn’t take away our CONSTITUTIONAL right to have the EXACT same rights as everyone else. Our relationship should not be relegated to that of second class citizenry; that is EXACTLY what some of you wish to do, along with Mr. Glass. (con't below)

For the Christians: if we look at Jesus actual words, and not those written by imperfect humans, I think we can come to a better understanding. The bible was written by many faithful people, and what they wrote made sense in the society they where in. But have you ever noticed that there are always conflicting verses if you look hard enough at it all? You can find versus for and against nearly every action depending on the context. This is why I personally try to stick with what Jesus said.
Matthew 7: 1-5 is Jesus exact words about us judging one another. "Pass no Judgement, and you will not be judged. For as you judge others, so you will yourselves be judged, and whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt back to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye, with never a thought for the great plank in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take that speck out of your eye', when all the time there is that plank in your own? You hypocrite! First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's." In Mark 12: 29-31 Jesus says what is most important for us to do: "The first of all the commandments is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is the only Lord; love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
-admin

Here's an update: http://havredegrace.patch.com/blog_posts/update-on-same-sex-marriage-legislation