Letter to the Editor

December 10, 2001

In an article dated December 10 [see below], Del. Don Dwyer told the reporter that churches in Canada are being required to perform same-sex marriages. In fact, the Canadian Supreme Court specifically stated that “the freedom of religion guaranteed by…the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects religious officials from being compelled to perform a marriage between two persons of the same sex that is contrary to their religious beliefs.” Del. Dwyer continues to either misunderstand basic facts, or chooses to purposefully mislead his colleagues and members of the clergy. In any case, many religious leaders in Maryland and across the globe do support blessing same-sex unions.

Dan Furmansky
Executive Director
Equality Maryland

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From The Annapolis Capital

Dwyer e-mail angers gay rights group

December 10, 2004

A Maryland gay rights organization this week blasted Del. Don Dwyer for spreading "hateful and inaccurate information" about homosexuals to promote an amendment to the state constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

"In an e-mail message sent to pastors on Dec. 1st, Del. Dwyer states ... 'courts will demand that you marry same-sex individuals by law in your church,"' Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, said in a prepared statement yesterday.

The First Amendment protects religious institutions from intrusion by the state, Mr. Furmansky noted. Churches are protected from government intrusion and would have the right to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies they deem inappropriate.

Mr. Dwyer disagreed and said churches in Canada are being required to perform same-sex marriages.

In quoting Mr. Dwyer, Mr. Furmansky referred to www.defendmarylandmarriage.com, a Web site that he said is maintained by the Glen Burnie Republican.

Mr. Dwyer said the site belongs to a coalition of groups and is not his alone.

He said he plans to continue meeting with ministers to drum up support for an amendment to define marriage as between heterosexuals.

"I am not going to engage in a debate with the homosexuals," he said. "This is not an issue where we are going to persuade each other."