Politics of Maryland

The Politics of Maryland concerns Maryland, as one of the states comprising the United States, and so is subject to both state and federal politics.

History

LGBT rights and community

In February 2010, the Maryland Attorney General issued an opinion stating that Maryland law should honor out of state marriages with no gay exception. At the time, the state Supreme Court wrote a decision upholding marriage discrimination.^[1]

On March 1, 2012, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed the freedom to marry bill into law after it passed in the state legislature. Immediately, anti-gay activists began collecting signatures to overturn the law. The law would now face a referendum, as Question 6, in the November 2012 election.^[1]

In May 2012, Maryland's Court of Appeals ruled that the state will recognize marriages of same-sex couples who married out-of-state, no matter the outcome of the November election.^[1]

Question 6 was rejected by voters on November 6, 2012. Same-sex couples began marrying in Maryland on January 1, 2013.^[1]

A large majority (57%) of Maryland voters said they would vote to uphold the freedom to marry at the ballot in November 2012, with 37% saying they would vote against marriage for all couples. This is consistent with a January 2011 Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies poll showing 51% support for marriage in the state.^[2]

See also

• Government of Maryland
• Elections in Maryland
• Political party strength in Maryland

References

State of Maryland Annapolis (capital) Topics Index Cities Government History People Congressional delegations Congressional maps Visitor attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Regions Allegheny Mountains Atlantic coastal plain Baltimore–Washington metro area Blue Ridge Chesapeake Cumberland Valley Delaware Valley Delmarva Peninsula Eastern Shore Piedmont Ridge and Valley Southern Maryland Western Maryland Western Shore Cities Aberdeen Annapolis Baltimore Bowie Cambridge College Park Cumberland Frederick Gaithersburg Greenbelt Hagerstown Havre de Grace Laurel Rockville Salisbury Takoma Park Westminster Towns Bel Air Brunswick Denton Easton Elkton Ocean City Port Deposit CDPs Arbutus Arnold Aspen Hill Baltimore Highlands Bethesda Camp Springs Carney Catonsville Chillum Clinton Cockeysville-Hunt Valley Colesville Columbia Crofton Dundalk Edgewood Eldersburg Elkridge Ellicott City Essex Fairland Ferndale Fort Washington Germantown Glen Burnie Green Haven Hillcrest Heights Landover Langley Park Lanham Lansdowne Lochearn Lutherville Middle River Milford Mill Montgomery Village Odenton Olney Owings Mills Oxon Hill Parkville Perry Hall Pikesville Potomac Randallstown Redland Reisterstown Rosedale St. Charles Severn Severna Park Silver Spring South Gate Suitland Timonium Towson Waldorf Wheaton-Glenmont White Oak Woodlawn Counties Allegany Anne Arundel Baltimore Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Charles Dorchester Frederick Garrett Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's St. Mary's Somerset Talbot Washington Wicomico Worcester