Md: Same sex “marriage” proponents may try slipper slope tactics
Laura Smitherman reports on the Baltimore Sun:
Concerned that they won’t be able to muster the votes for a comprehensive bill on same-sex unions this year, state lawmakers are considering a tactical shift toward legislation that would grant a number of rights to gay and lesbian couples but stop short of full-fledged marriage or civil unions.
Such a bill would create a legal relationship for gay and lesbian couples that confers as many as possible of the several hundred rights granted to married couples under state law.
“We’re looking at a smaller basket of rights and benefits,” said Sen. Jamie Raskin, a Montgomery County Democrat. “We champions of gay and lesbian couples prefer civil marriage. We’ll start with all those rights and benefits and work our way down.” . . .
Marc Fisher also has a report on the Washington Post titled: Md. Senator at a Loss for Words Over Same-Sex Marriage Bill. He discusses the supposed dillemma the same sex “marriage” issue poses for a black man who is a “conservative” pastor and a Democratic legislator.