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Obviously, a lot of the news today is about the same-sex marriage bill (or, more specifically, its 200 amendments) being debated right now in the Maryland House of Delegates. If approved in the House, the bill would move to the state Senate, which approved a similar bill last year and is generally seen as receptive to same-sex marriage legislation.
Justin Snow, an investigative reporting intern with Maryland Reporter, is following the developments closely and providing regular updates on his Twitter feed. He's also a frequent contributor to Baltimore and wrote an in-depth analysis in our January issue of last year's failed attempt to pass gay-marriage legislation, which is available to read here.
I've been following along via Twitter and other media platforms, and a lot of the usual arguments are being made by supporters and detractors of the bill. Proponents are framing the issue as a civil-rights issue, while opponents—many of whom object on religious grounds—are wary of change. Nothing very new there. But then there's this from today's Sun article about behind-the-scenes lobbying.
"As a handful of undecided Maryland delegates wrestle over their position on same-sex marriage, they've received calls from national leaders trying to move them one way or another on the bill.
Prominent figures dialing Maryland area codes include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman and Cardinal-elect Edwin F. O'Brien—who called from Rome—according to delegates who've received messages from them and sources familiar with the calls."
Bloomberg's support is no surprise, nor is Mehlman's really, who, came out in August 2010. Cardinal-elect Edwin F. O'Brien, a potent influence on Maryland's sizable Catholic voting block, is lobbying against the bill.
Then, further down in the story, there's this:
"By far the biggest boost came in the morning when Republican Del. Wade Kach, who was considered a sure-fire no vote, threw his support behind O'Malley's bill. Kach had voted against the bill two days earlier in committee.
The Baltimore County delegate said he reached his decision after mulling the testimony he'd heard during a nearly 11-hour hearing on the bill last week and watching how same-sex couples supported one another. 'I thought to myself, if my constituents were here, they'd have a different perspective on the issue,' Kach said. 'I'm sure of it.'
He also became the target of a last-minute lobby effort, and said his voice mail was full of messages from important people, including Mehlman, Bloomberg and an offer to talk with former Vice President Dick Cheney, whom Kach regards as a "great man." [emphasis added]
I went full-on Liz Lemon when I read that. "What the what?!" I said outloud to my computer screen.
Despite having a out-and-proud lesbian daughter, Mary, Cheney's politics have sent mixed messages to the gay community. Since leaving office he has stated that he supports same-sex marriage but would like to see the issue addressed at a state, not federal, level. However, as Vice-President, he remained largely silent when the Bush administration pushed for a constitutional amendment codifying opposite-sex marriage in case the already-on-the-books Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was challenged in court. President Bush eventually abandoned the idea after winning reelection in 2004, but Cheney was branded as disingenuous at best and disloyal at worst by many in LGBT community. Has the former VP and sometimes St. Michaels resident changed his tune? Or is he just expressing what he's always believed, but felt he couldn't officially endorse until now?
I, for one, will be interested in seeing what—if any—comment he has on the legislature's ultimate decision.
