Maryland has taken its first tentative step towards modifying the state constitution to allow for same-sex marriages.
The bill has been met with a mixed response, and many are skeptical about its chances of it passing successfully.
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (RFCMP) was introduced on Jan. 25, by its lead sponsors, Sens. Jamie Raskin and Rich Madaleno.?
The bill itself is intended to negate last year's decision by a Maryland court to deny same-sex couples marriage licenses, strictly defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Junior Keshav Khanijow, president of JHU's Diverse Gender and Sexuality Alliance (DSAGA), said he's hopeful for the bill's success. The court decision to disallow gay marriage, "made me feel like I was a second-class citizen in Maryland," he said.
Khanijow emphasized that if the bill is going to be successful, it's necessary for people to make their opinions known.?
"It all depends on the opinions of our legislators, so it's important for people to let the legislators know that they support the bill," he said.
Also worth noting, he said, was that the bill, "doesn't overstep people's religious freedom or personal choices."
If passed, the proposed bill would state that any person authorized to perform marriages in the state of Maryland would not be required to perform any marriages which ran counter to their religious beliefs.
The RFCMP Act states that marriages between any "two people, not otherwise prohibited from marrying" are valid.? Currently under Maryland law, only marriages between one man and one woman are considered valid.
Some, however, remain doubtful of the bill's future.?
"Baltimore will be more favorably disposed than the rest of the state, but there's very little chance that the bill will pass," said Matthew Crenson, a professor of politcal science at Hopkins.
At the time of its announcement, the bill had been sponsored by 49 lawmakers - nine in the Senate and 40 in the House of Delegates - most of whom represent areas of Montgomery and Prince George's counties.?
The bill currently has about half the majority needed to pass. Proponents of the bill are working to drum up support in other areas of Maryland.?
There will be chances for Maryland residents to publicly react to the bill in the coming months.? Equality Maryland is organizing a Lobby Day 2008 on Feb. 11. This event is intended to bring out the bill's proponents for a public display of support.????
"In terms of what DSAGA is doing, it's hard for us to do things because our school is located in Baltimore, and most legislation goes on in Annapolis, so it's hard to get transportation.? But people will be attending Lobby Day on Feb. 11 to show their support," ? Khanijow said.
Many media outlets have stated that the bill is unlikely to succeed this year, in part because of positions like that of Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. Miller opposes both civil unions and same-sex marriages, instead suggesting that granting individual rights to gay couples one at a time might be a more successful venture.
According to Crenson, although attitudes towards same-sex marriage have been growing steadily more progressive, it's unlikely that a bill like the one proposed will succeed this year.?
However, Crenson said he felt such legislation will eventually be passed. "Young people are much more favorably disposed than older people. The fact is that when gay people started to come out, anyone not gay found out they had friends and relatives who were, and that led to a seismic change in attitude towards gay rights," he said.
The legislation is "a pretty strong bill. It allows for equal protection and equal rights for everybody while still protecting religious groups, and there's the second provision, that churches don't have to follow it, so it's fairly progressive," said senior Jordan Libowitz, president of the Hopkins College Democrats.
Libowitz also noted that the bill has been constructed in an attempt to maximize its acceptability to more conservative parties. "I believe it never uses the term civil union, it just changes 'man and a woman' to 'two people.'"?
Hopkins College Republicans President Evan Lazerowitz felt that the chances of a gay marriage bill passing "are low [in] the current form of the bill because it's not just Republicans but some Democrats that are not in favor of calling it marriage."
"We are thankful that it's being done by a legislator and not a court. It's better that it comes from people's legislators," he said.
Raskin and Madaleno assumed sponsorship of the bill following the death of its original intended sponsor, Sen. Gwendolyn Britt, on Jan. 12, 2008.
?Up until her death, Britt was one of Maryland's most outspoken advocates of marriage equality legislation.
Maryland State Sen. Catherine Pugh, who represents the 40th District, which includes the city of Baltimore, was listed among those who sponsored the RFCMP. She was unavailable for comment at press time.
