Maryland: Hearings Do Matter

February 10, 2011

Testimony at Tuesday's Maryland Senate committee hearings on the Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act had an effect on at least one Senator. Baltimore County Sen. James Brochin (D) had previously said that he was against the bill. But now he's saying that he will support it as a result of what he heard in the statehouse. Brochin said we was appalled by remarks made by the bill's opponents.

"'The demonization of gay families really bothered me,'" Brochin said. "'Are these families going to continue to be treated by the law as second class citizens?'"

He added in a news release, "For me, the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one, but the uncertainty, fear and second-class status that gays and lesbians have to put up with is far worse and clearly must come to an end." 

24 votes are needed to pass the bill. With Brochin, 20 Senators have said they would support it, and six have not yet committed to one side or ther other.

 Freedom to Marry has staff on the ground working with Equality Maryland to help get the bill passed.