Md. Marriage Equality Could End Up On Ballot With State's Dream Act

WASHINGTON -- If Maryland lawmakers approve a marriage equality bill during the upcoming legislative session, opponents of same-sex marriage have pledged to organize a petition initiative and put it before voters during November's general election.

If that happens, marriage equality in Maryland may end up on the same ballot as the state's Dream Act, which gives in-state tuition to college students living in the United States illegally.

As the Gazette reports, there are worries that a ballot referendum combination of marriage equality and the Dream Act could send both measures down in flames.

But such a ballot scenario could also drum up liberal support for both in a heavily Democratic state:

"[You] would have two liberal groups out trying to drum up support for both of those," [Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research director Donald F.] Norris said.

A weak Republican presidential candidate in 2012 also could ensure a referendum defeat for both issues, because conservative voters would be more likely to stay home, he said.

The law's chance of surviving a referendum would be higher in 2012, a presidential election year, than in 2014, when state and congressional candidates will be on the ballot, Norris said.

Polling has shown that Maryland residents are split on both same-sex marriage and the Dream Act.

Last year, marriage equality legislation stalled in the state's House of Delegates after being approved by state senators.

This time around, marriage equality proponents in Maryland have greater political momentum, with Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) out in front on the issue and a major public relations effort -- similar to the one that helped get same-sex marriage legislation through the New York state legislature last year -- drumming up public support.

Maryland lawmakers will kick off the 2012 legislative session in Annapolis on Jan. 11.

Also on HuffPost:

Gov. Martin O'Malley Marriage Equality Video

Comments

[Joseph Mustich]

12:31 PM on 01/08/2012

Oh, jeez MD.
Would the marriage police just find another issue to focus on and leave civil marriage alone!

Cheers, Joe Mustich, CT USA
Marriage Officiant & Justice of the Peace.
Onward to full civil and marriage equality rights. Period.

**like vicious war mongering, wall st huckstering, etc etc

[Godweiser]

01:43 PM on 01/07/2012

The important factor in gay marriage here in Maryland isn't the Republicans in Eastern Appalachia, it's the black community, and there's no way to really call it at this point. At the very least, the likes of Julian Bond have created a dialogue on the issue within the community, but it's very much a real struggle between belief in religion and belief in civil rights right now, and both are keenly and genuinely felt.

[Barbara Lilly]

08:42 PM on 01/07/2012

Very well said and absolutely correct. I grew up in PG County and chose to come back and buy a house in MD, especially PG COunty because it is a liberal, progressive state, and PG County has the diveristy I want my kids to grow up with. However, the deep rift in the black and latino communities regarding gay marriage kills me. I do believe that Gay Rights are a Civil Rights issue, a stance that many in the black and latino communites disagree with. I wish we could just get over it and let people live their lives. It is not going to be easy.

[Godweiser]

09:06 PM on 01/07/2012

I honestly think it's a matter of time and they'll get there. I just hope they get there in time to vote on this referendum.

[azlegalcitizen]

12:53 AM on 01/07/2012

One more state refusing that rediculous dream act. It is not for american's kids it is a ploy to win votes for the dems for the illegal's kids and should be repudiated in every state and by congress.

[grod805]

09:48 PM on 01/06/2012

I don't see how the Gazelle got to the conclusion that both will pass if there is a weak Republican Presidential candidate. Even in California, Prop 8 got passed with 52% of the vote. None of these should be put on the ballot or will be overturned by the people.

[alicetilden]

05:16 PM on 01/06/2012

I have lived in Maryland my entire life and I will be very happy to see Gay Marriage become law here. We have a great Governor. Yes, we are a rather liberal state and I like it that way. There is one local politician who has ranted against gay marriage and I'm glad to see that he appears to be losing his fight. I despise bigotry in all forms.

[AZVet3Wars]

01:52 PM on 01/06/2012

These are state issues and if Maryland wants to have Sam sex marriage and the Dream act i say go ahead. What i dont like is Liebrals pushing this on conservative states that dont want it. We dont want AZ to become an Illegal safe haven, we are one of the most populated states when it comes to illegals, costing us millions

[desertdreamer]

01:42 PM on 01/06/2012

Thank you Gov. O'Malley!

[Niasia]

01:38 PM on 01/06/2012

I live in MD (on the DC line) and I will vote for both. I have had immigrants tell me they moved to MD from VA because the blacks didn't give them a hard time so I feel the DREAM act has a strong chance. Now the marriage bill...I don't know if the state on a whole has come around just yet and that is sad, my mother being one of those people. I'm gonna talk to my mom, and family members that I have knock down drag out arguments with about gay marriage rights and try to get them to see the light!! I feel MD CAN DO THIS!!

[Godweiser]

01:50 PM on 01/07/2012

Good luck with your mother, every vote counts. I wish I had relatives to convince around here, but I live in Pikesville, and I'm pretty sure we'll be okay on passing it in our district. Not so sure about the DREAM act, since almost all the immigrants here are legal, though we have a lot of them. My recommendation is that you perhaps tell your relatives about the Martin Niemoller "First they came..."; Niemoller was a German pastor that initially supported a certain party in the 1930's only to have it turn on him during WWII when he dared to object. I think it's a very good argument toward strong and equal application of rights to all; allowing the repression of one group is a justification to repress other groups, after all.

[Ed Baker]

12:35 PM on 01/06/2012

Encouraging immigration will also import homophobia.

[Godweiser]

12:33 PM on 01/06/2012

The DREAM act isn't gonna make it, basically. I'm a Maryland Liberal and I'm saying this. Gay marriage, by contrast...well, the anti's can't even get a lobbying firm to work for them. That's how in the hole they are.

[meeks]

12:04 PM on 01/07/2012

This Maryland liberal agrees with you completely. I just don't think the Dream Act will make it here. There is a lot of anti illegal stuff stirring up in Frederick Co and on the eastern shore. But the Equality stuff... yeah I think that will happen.

[Godweiser]

01:37 PM on 01/07/2012

So far, that's been every Marylander in here, basically saying that DREAM isn't happening. I mean, we read the papers here, and see it every week, how the opposition is particularly strong on that issue. By contrast, we also know through local news that the anti-equality movement can't get lobbyists.

[Zippy1169]

12:01 PM on 01/06/2012

Would rather see these two issues separately. However, did you watch the Governor's message about equality. It's simple, to the point, and perfect. Why are there so many politicians that can't see the simplicity of the prejudice and inequality of what they are saying.

[rockysparks]

10:54 AM on 01/06/2012

Well, if they're going to put it on the ballot, for heaven's sake, don't ask Newt Gingrich's or Rick Perry's team to collect the signatures ...

[Zack Klares]

10:23 AM on 01/06/2012

Maryland Dems are pretty well organized, i could see both passing on referendum..

[Esther21072011]

10:35 AM on 01/06/2012

Except they seriously lost the battle to keep it off the ballot - because people here have had enough - even the liberals.

[mrs young]

01:25 PM on 01/06/2012

I knew I liked you Esther - we must be neighbors.

[alicetilden]

05:04 PM on 01/06/2012

I live in Maryland and I am a Liberal. Just what have I had enough of?

[troyrobertdavid]

10:19 AM on 01/06/2012

This is the biggest sham of American Politics and it’s horrible. Please someone tell me what tuition for students living in America illegally has to do with Gay marriage? These types of bills are appalling and should never be allowed. These politicians that don’t approve of gay marriage attach an extremely unpopular idea to a bill about gay marriage to insure that it doesn’t pass. THIS IS PATHETIC!!!

[Esther21072011]

10:08 AM on 01/06/2012

I'm in MD - the Dream Act will be killed in referendum - even the liberals here are against rewarding illegals and giving them preference over citizens.

[jwadvocate83]

10:35 AM on 01/06/2012

I'm in Maryland --- you're probably right. I wouldn't be surprised if the Maryland equality legislation passed. (It did in D.C.)

[Niasia]

01:42 PM on 01/06/2012

I see it the other way around. Don't forget about the many MEGA churches in the state.