Maryland First Lady Katie O’Malley is passionate about gay marriage passing in the Maryland legislature. So passionate that while appearing before a gay group yesterday she called those who did not support the legislation last session “cowards.” This drew applause in the room, but today she is apologizing for the statement. O’Malley said today “I let my feelings get the better of me.” “I deeply respect that there are strongly held and differing views on marriage equality in Maryland, but hope that our state’s elected officials will come together to fairly address this important issue for our families and children.” The fact is there are differing opinions on this issue within the state. Different does not mean wrong or cowardly it means just that different, and that should be respected too. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-first-lady-katie-omalley-blames-cowards-for-gay-marriage-failure-last-year/2012/01/26/gIQAUUk6TQ_story.html
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Katie O’Malley’s comments, both this year and last, directed at the maryland legislature, were wholly inapporpriate, unprofessional, and violated the cannons of judicial ethics. If she can’t conform to the rules of law and cannons of ethcis, she should be removed from the bench. She, like her husband, is arrogant, and clearly feels she is above the law. Moreover, it was her ‘coward’ husband, the governor, that sat on his hands refusing to take a stand on gay marriage last session which led to its failure to pass. He clearly stated the issue should go to referendum which allowed him to take no position. Down with katie and martin. If gay marriage in maryland fails, blame them.
But gay marriage is an equal rights issue. 48 years ago would you have considered politicians who opposed the Civil Rights Act cowardly?
Gay marriage is NOT a civil rights issue. It’s been packaged that way, because the Gay Rights movement has studied the Civil Rights Movement and found they can emulate it to forward their cause, which is to impose their view on others, regardless of reason of objection. Homosexuals have never been subjected to the physical and mental abuses visited upon blacks during the Civil Rights Movement. No gay man was ever lynched for whistling at a woman. No gay children were ever killed in a firebombing at their church. Homosexuals are not denied the ability to eat at restaurants or buy homes or have to use different doors just because of who they choose to sleep with. (For the record, I know that there have been individuals who have been horribly and brutally killed. I’m saying those abhorrent acts are the exception and have never been enshrined into law.) Please, do not mistake the Civil Rights movement for what is going on now.
Elogam, the reality of the situation cannot be denied. When two gay people marry, all the hetero marriages do not change. The couples continue to be straight and married just as they were before. So, how can you say marriage changes? Your “predictions” of the future are your own negative imagations of the future. What crystal ball are you using?
No one is imposing gay culture onto anyone. If you wish to igonore gay people you are free to do so. No one is saying that heterosexual marriage should be abolished. But are you two-faced by supportng your gay co-workers by claiming you would come to their protection when they are bashed. You can’t see that we need your support for our civil rights to marry.
You are wrong about gay people not suffering abuse and murder. Mathiew Sheppard was whipped and left to freeze to death on a fence along a deserted country road, gays are being being beaten down on street corners, and bullied to the point of suicide. No one is accusing you of being homophobic, but don’t deny that many people are.
What studies have you read that claim that children grow up better in a mixed gender marriage? There is no evidence that children in same-sex families are any more or less advantaged than those in opposite sex families. This “anything goes” statement you make is bogus. I think the message to children is to know yourself and be true to who you are. Parents are obliged to teach their children the rules of good behavior and politeness in society. Whether gay or straight, we all embrace the same good family values.
I hope that when gay marriage is legalized, you won’t suffer emotionally. You are still straight, and have all of you civil rights in tact. There’s no need to feel upset when gay people are happy.
Peace.
The First Lady of Maryland really put a wrench in the works with her words of scorn, calling opponents of same sex marriage “cowards”. I can understand her frustration, but I wish she had merely asked people to be brave and courageous rather than resorting to insults.
The facts are so simple. Marriage is still between a man and a woman even when gay people marry. The tenets of matrimony are unshakable; the only thing changing is who is no longer excluded from the civil contract. Does anyone remember when blacks were forbidden to marry whites? * The sanctity of marriage rests entirely between the two spouses and their ability to fulfill the vows they have chosen for the rest of their lives. When we are on a level playing field, it is true to say that everyone has the chance to make either a success or mockery of their own marriage. Straight marriages that fail are often blown out of proportion in the news media, with sports stars, politicians, and celebrities showing us how bad it can get, or how a fairy tale wedding can go poof in seventy two days. But let’s remember, we are talking about good people and their marriages, however they may evolve.
Can anyone argue against the fact that Fear is a destructive element in society? The marriage equality proposal is about gay people, their parents and family. Think of how much fear gay people life with in their daily lives when they are the object of stigmatization and ridicule. The passage of the law will alleviate some of the stigma attached with being gay, and will change the conversation in the home from one of distrainment to that of support and encouragement to find a good person with whom to settle down and possibly marry.
What do lawmakers fear the most? Do they feel they will be cut off by their political party? Do they dread being lectured by their ministers, imams, or rabbis? I wish I could talk to these lawmakers; I would assure them that nothing bad happens when two gay people marry. There is no evidence that any State has fallen into a downward spiral of incest and bestiality after that State legalized gay marriage. In fact, local economies have flourished with home purchases, household goods, and sometimes, the adopting of children.
Yes, there are many points of view over this issue; the diversity is palpable whether in the straight or gay community. But there is one constant – the Constitution of the United States ensures that every American will have the same opportunities and benefits. Our feelings are personal, but this equality legislation is universal. Lawmakers will have to act selflessly for the sake of the general population of gay people and their families.
So, lawmakers, be as brave as the gay person who stands up for his or her rights in the face of belittlement, insults, and outright condemnations. Keep your heads held high and speak out in favor of equality. It is NOT A FAMILY VALUE to shun or condemn gay family members. Whether gay or straight, the rules of good behavior are the same.
* In 1964, my white blond haired Irish brother was denied a marriage license to his equally white Irish bride to be. We were in New Orleans, and my brother’s identification did not specify his race, and the clerk at City Hall refused to issue the license, because my brother could not prove that he was NOT BLACK. Interracial marriages were against the law at that time, and my brother had to appear in court before a judge, where a black man served as expert witness by looking at my brother and saying to the judge, “yes your honor, he’s white!” We all thought it was so funny, but in reality it was quite the opposite. I heard of an instance last year where a local Louisiana judge denied a bi-racial couple their marriage license. I see how old habits have a hard time dying, but had this man fallen asleep for forty years and just woken up not knowing it was 2011?
Willholahan, you make some very common mistakes in your trieste. Firstly, I do not understand how “Marriage is still between a man and a woman even when gay people marry.” IF two men marry or two women marry, that changes the definition of an institution that has existed for thousands of years. Why? Because we have encountered a time when “anything goes”. Marriage is a pillar of our community, just like a load bearing pillar in a building. You mess with it and alter it at your own peril. The argument of “See, our society has not collapsed yet from the states that have adopted gay marriage” is short sighted. I don’t think anyone really expected to see New York fall into the sea the second the legislation was signed. In time our society will have eroded so much from within that it will implode. We’ve just lit a match on a tremendous powder keg.
Secondly,you cannot compare interracial marriage with gay marriage. Race, gender and orientation are NOT interchangeable. For example: We have no problem with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, but would be repulsed by an effort to have Black Scouts and White Scouts. We all use Men’s Rooms and Ladies Rooms, but the notion of Blacks only and Whites only on a restroom was pretty much an American phenomenon that finally went away. I know there has been a concerted effort to make them interchangeable for the sake of “the cause”, but I am not convinced, nor will I be in the near future. Studies show that a child benefits most from a loving mother and a loving father being in the home, as both bring different things to the table. You can substitute one or the other, but in time we will realize we have short changed this generation that has been taught that “anything goes, so long as it FEELS right.”
As you may have surmised, I am NOT for re-defining the institution of marriage. I have many reasons, religious and secular. I won’t argue the religious ones, but I will state my secular ones. This issue is not about ‘equality’; it’s about subjugation. Those who champion the “courage” and “bravery” of people wanting to redefine marriage say it is an “equality” issue. They talk about “freedom” and “opportunity”. But the true agenda is to redefine marriage and impose upon others a point of view not all others share. Why is it that if someone does not embrace the gay marriage movement, they are called “homophobic”,. “Narrow minded”, “Bigoted” and worse? Not everyone who opposes gay marriage is HOSTILE towards gays. I know and work with gay people, would not stand for someone bashing a gay person, would come to the aid of a gay person who needed it, and treat them like every other person would want to be treated. But if they ask me to condone that which I do not support, I have to be true to my beliefs and say I cannot. To me, THAT is the more courageous course of action.
It’s true, black people suffered unimaginable acts of violence and discrimination, and in comparison, gay people have suffered less. But civil rights are the same regardless of the intensity of anti-gay or black sentiments. Think about black gay people, they get a double whammy of abuse. The core of the problem is bigotry. Let’s agree to fight prejudice together, reagadless of our differences.