Resolution to Introduce Maryland Marriage Amendment Defeated
A bill banning same-sex marriage was blocked from introduction to the full House on Friday.
On Friday, an effort to introduce a bill to protect traditional marriage in Maryland was defeated in the state House.
A bill for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman only was pushed through the House Judiciary Committee by Delegate Don Dwyer, overcoming efforts to eliminate the bill before it got to the full House.
On Friday, Dwyer sought to introduce a House Joint Resolution, “Definition of Marriage-Ceremony Between One Man and One Woman,” to the full House.
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“It became necessary to seek the introduction of this joint resolution because the House Judiciary Committee failed to properly advance HB 1220 (Constitutional Amendment to define marriage),” said Dwyer.
“The state of Maryland must not forfeit the opportunity to send a clear and unequivocal message that it will defend and protect the sanctity of marriage as a union between one man and one woman.”
Dwyer’s joint resolution was considered a “late-filed” bill, requiring a full House vote to be introduced. The joint resolution needed 95 votes in order to be introduced, but only received 85 votes.
Following the defeat, Dwyer commented, “To date there have been 13 late-filed bills introduced to the House. All have received the courtesy of being introduced with overwhelming support - until today.”
Some opponents to the bill gave affirmative votes for the resolution, stating that “everyone should be granted the courtesy of having their bills introduced.”
“As we speak, the constitutionality of Maryland’s current marriage law is being challenged,” said Dwyer. “Why then, at such a critical moment, are so many unwilling to extend the most basic courtesy of allowing this resolution to be introduced?”
Currently, Maryland law defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Supporters of the amendment say that a constitutional amendment is needed to protect this definition of traditional marriage from being challenged in court. Advocates of the amendment held a prayer meeting outside the State House on Thursday.
Another bill that would have allowed Maryland to reject same-sex unions carried out in other states was also defeated in the House Judiciary Committee last week.
