Fighting for Marriage Equality in Maryland in 2011

***For Heather's statement on this year's setback on marriage equality legislation, click here***

***To read or listen to Heather's speech on the floor of the House of Delegates, click here***

Maryland is ready for marriage equality.
For thousands of Maryland's LGBT families, a marriage license would be worth far more than the paper it were printed on. Though love makes a family, it is marriage that protects families - for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. Our state must stop denying same-sex couples the protections of marriage. Maryland is ready for marriage equality, and our time is now.

The Marriage Bill
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (Senate Bill 116/House Bill 175) is barely more than a page long. It would allow same-sex couples to marry in Maryland while ensuring that no house of worship be required to perform their weddings. It's that simple.

The Latest
(Last updated 11 March)
* Maryland Senate: Bill passed the Senate 25-21 on February 24th
* Maryland House of Delegates: The House voted March 11th to "recommit" the bill to Committee, effectively killing it this year.

News
* The Daily Record: Same-sex marriage bill to return in 2012
* Washington Post editorial: Lessons from loss in Maryland’s gay-marriage battle
* The Afro-American: Gay Marriage and Maryland’s ‘Schizophrenic Nature’
* Metro Weekly: No Maryland Marriage Vote
* New York Times: Same-Sex Marriage Bill Falls Short in Maryland
* Washington Post: Maryland House turns back bill that would legalize same-sex marriage
* Associated Press via MSNBC: Maryland gay marriage bill dies with no final vote
* Annapolis Capital: House gives up on gay marriage
* On Top Magazine: Heather Mizeur Implores Maryland Delegates To Vote For Love
* WAMU (audio): Fight For Gay Marriage Is Personal For Maryland Delegate
* Metro Weekly: Maryland Marriage Bill and the Week Ahead
* Washington Post: Personal appeals on Md. gay marriage bill making a difference, lawmakers say
* Baltimore Sun: Same-sex marriage bill coming to Md. House floor
* Washington Post: Maryland same-sex marriage bill clears divided House panel
* Associated Press via Washington Examiner: Gay marriage bill back on track in Maryland House
* Baltimore Sun: Same-sex marriage bill in peril
* Baltimore Sun: House takes on same-sex marriage legislation
* Washington Blade: Dozens testify at Md. House hearing on marriage bill
* Washington Post: Md. House to act quickly on same-sex marriage bill
* Associated Press via Carroll County Times: Maryland House weighs gay marriage bill
* Reuters: Maryland Senate approves same-sex marriage
* NBC Washington: Momentum in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage in Md. Senate
* Washington Post: Md. Senate - largest remaining hurdle to same-sex marriage - likely to approve bill
* Baltimore Sun: Hundreds crowd Senate for hearing on same-sex marriage
* DCist: Md. Senate Holds Hearing On Same-Sex Marriage Bill Today
* Washington Post: Supporters of same-sex marriage in Md. unlikely to settle for civil unions
* Metro Weekly: Maryland Gets Marriage Bill
* CNN: Maryland set to expand gay rights, same-sex marriage

What You Can Do
* Pop the Question to your elected officials - ask them to support marriage equality right NOW.
* Contact Patrick by email.

Watch Heather in Action

* Heather speaks from the heart on the House floor (Note: Video is not complete - to read or listen to Heather's full speech, click here

* Heather testifies in front of the House Judiciary Committee