Lawmakers in Maryland introduced measures late last month that would allow for both marriage equality and the expansion of the state’s nondiscrimination law.
Senate Majority Leader Robert Garagiola and House Majority Leader Kumar Barve proposed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act in their respective chambers Jan. 25, while House Delegate Joseline Pena-Melnyk introduced the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act Jan. 27.
The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee has scheduled a hearing on the marriage bill Feb. 8; the House has not yet schedule a committee vote for the marriage or nondiscrimination measures.
The marriage-equality bill has 18 cosponsors in the Senate and 59 in the House. Democrats hold a majority in both chambers, and the measure is expected to face a tougher fight in the Senate, where it will need 21 votes to break a filibuster and 24 votes for final approval.
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has pledged to sign a marriage-equality bill should it come to his desk.
An opinion handed down last year by the state’s Attorney General allowed for the state to recognize same-sex marriages performed legally in other jurisdictions.
The Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on gender identity. In 2001, the state extended such protections based on sexual orientation, but transgender residents are currently unprotected by law.
The gender-identity measure, which has not yet been introduced in the Senate, has 55 cosponsors.
Lisa Polyak, chair of the Equality Maryland Political Action Committee, said activists plan to achieve success in the House and then “slingshot” the bill over to the Senate.
Both the marriage bill and the nondiscrimination measure were introduced the past three years but failed to move out of committee.
Polyak said that this session, however, Equality Maryland is “cautiously optimistic” for victory.
Both bills have a record number of cosponsors, and Polyak said the lawmakers sponsoring the marriage measure are key.
“For the marriage bill, the majority leader in both chambers is serving as the lead sponsor for the bill,” she said. “It’s very important to have someone in a leadership role being the lead sponsor because it gives that additional visibility and credibility.
“And we have improved composition on the committees hearing the bills in both the House and Senate,” she added. “So hopefully we’re going to be able to get these bills out of committee finally and onto the floor.”
Polyak cautioned, however, that success is still going to be a struggle and that the LGBT community needs to rally around both measures.
Supporters are invited to offer testimony during the Feb. 8 hearing on the marriage bill, which will begin at 1 p.m. at the Maryland Statehouse in Annapolis.
Equality Maryland will host a Lobby Day Feb. 14 at the Statehouse, where guests will undergo a training beginning at 4:30 p.m., followed by a rally. From 6-8 p.m., participants will meet in groups with legislators to explain why both bills are needed.
Polyak said community members and allies are also encouraged to write or call their lawmakers on their own and submit letters to the editor to local publications, demonstrating to their elected officials the concerns of their constituents.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].