Maryland gay rights

LGBTQ Non-Discrimination in MD: What You Need to Know

In recent years, great strides have been made toward granting the LGBTQ society equal rights under the law. Title VII of The Civil Rights Perform of began the clash decades ago by establishing a prohibition on discrimination against individuals based on race, color, or sex, etc. But in later years, case law interpreted this act to involve a prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

According to recent polls, in Maryland, % of adults and 5% of the productive adults are part of the LGBTQ community. In addition, 20% of the LGBTQ community is currently raising families. As a result, the State of Maryland has established a number of laws to make sure that this community is protected against discrimination when it comes to employment, housing, and other essential areas of life. Here are some of the advancements made in recent years that you may need to be aware of if you are an employer, landlord, or business owner.

Fairness for All Marylanders Behave of

This Act became effective on October 1, It es

Ten years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, and the case began with a couple who got married on the tarmac at BWI Airport. 

WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren spoke to the lead plaintiff, Jim Obergefell, a decade after the ruling.

He says marriage equality is under attack. 

Supreme Court ruling day

On June 26, , people camped outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., waiting for the ruling that could change history. 

And it did.

When my case number was read, I just jumped up in my seat a little bit and immediately started crying," Obergefell told CBS News moments after the decision. 

A decade later, Obergefell spoke candidly about the impact. 

"I think about the families that have formed, the people who own been able to say, 'I cherish you, I decide you. I will love, honor and protect you,'" he said. "And I think about the kids who include a future where, before, they might not have seen one for themselves. I think about a young girl in Tennessee who told me that if it weren't for Obergefell v. Hodges – if it weren

Maryland Marriage Equality

Same-sex couples have been able to marry in Maryland since January 1, On Protest 1, , Governor Martin O&#;Malley signed H.B. , a bill that allowed same-sex couples to marry. However, opponents gathered signatures to put a referendum that would have repealed the fresh law on the ballot. On November 6, , the referendum did not pass. NCLR worked as part of a broad coalition to help pass the bill and defeat the referendum.

Even before this law went into effect, Maryland already recognized marriages between same-sex couples entered in other jurisdictions. On May 18, , the Court of Appeals of Maryland (the state&#;s uppermost court), ruled in Port v. Cowan that Maryland must notice an out-of-state marriage of a same-sex couple if the marriage was valid in the express where the couple married. Under the legal doctrine of &#;comity,&#; the court held that Maryland must recognize out-of-state marriages for purposes of divorce and for all other purposes, even if the couple could not hold entered into the marriage within the state.

Information about relationship reco

Marriage Equality

Maryland NOW was a member of the Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition. This group was thriving in defending marriage equality at the ballot box in November Thank YOU for your support of equal rights for our LGBT sisters and brothers. Lesbian and gay couples share the same beliefs of love, commitment and stability as other families – they should own the same opportunity to get a marriage license.

People of all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples, want their children to live in a loving, stable involved home and be protected under the law.

Gay and lesbian couples want to stand before their family and friends to produce a public promise of lifelong commitment and responsibility.

A few other states acquire tried to create alternatives to marriage, like civil unions, but none provide the same meaning or security as civil marriage.

Religious marriage remains unchanged. Churches and other religious institutions don’t have to commit anyone they don’t wish to.
Committed, loving lgbtq+ couples were able to get a marriage license at the courthouse be