From Hometownannapolis.com

Daughter Of Alan Keyes Speaks At Gay Rights Rally

by Vanessa Franko
Staff Writer

February 15, 2005

While most of Annapolis was without power, more than 500 people created their own energy on Lawyers Mall yesterday at a rally to fight legislation defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

The crowd, chanting for gay rights in a dreary mist outside the State House, called for lawmakers to vote down the Defense of Marriage Act, pass legislation addressing sexual orientation in hate crimes and give gay people the right to make health care decisions for their partners.

Amid the business executives, teenagers in jeans and families, was Randy Balano of Fairhaven, who held a large sign reading, "Don't pander to prejudice. Don't legislate hate." Next to her were her son and husband.

"We've been married for 15 years and we think everyone should have the same rights we have," she said.

And in another part of the rally was Suzie Robertson, a fisheries biologist from Shady Side.

"What's right is right," said Ms. Robertson.

For many, the highlight of the rally was Maya Marcel-Keyes, daughter of conservative political firebrand Alan Keyes. She spoke publicly for the first time since her sexual orientation became an issue on the national level.

Her father, a two-time Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Maryland and former presidential candidate, created a stir in August when he said during his recent Illinois Senate campaign that homosexuality is "selfish hedonism" and Vice President Dick Cheney's lesbian daughter is a sinner.

"Liberal queer and conservative Republican just doesn't mesh well," Ms. Keyes said of her home life.

She said the death of a longtime friend prompted her to speak about the need to raise awareness for younger people who come out to their families and are thrown out of their homes.

After her speech, Ms. Marcel-Keyes told reporters that her parents "were not too pleased" when they learned she was a lesbian, but she said she loves them "very much, and they love me. They can't support my activities."

Another national figure at the rally was Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard. The University of Wyoming student was tortured and murdered in Laramie in 1998 because he was gay. She talked about the importance of including sexual orientation in hate crime legislation.

"Hate crime protection is for all of us," Mrs. Shepard said.

The only county lawmaker at the rally, sponsored by Equality Maryland, was an unlikely one: Del. Don Dwyer, R-Glen Burnie, co-sponsor of the proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

A speaker at the rally for the amendment that drew 1,000 people to the same spot two weeks ago, he watched yesterday's event from the perimeter.

"I wanted to see what they were going to say about me," he said.

The conservative legislator was more likely to find supporters at a news conference earlier in the day held by Defend Maryland Marriage at the First Baptist Church of Eastport.

Defend Maryland Marriage supports a referendum to amend the state constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Maryland is already one of 41 states that has statues with that definition.

"We need a constitutional amendment and we need it now . . . we need it to protect what God has sanctioned as holy," said the Rev. Rick Bowers, head of the political action committee.

He told those in attendance that the law already existing in Maryland was not enough, and expressed concern that the American Civil Liberties Union viewed the state as the next Massachusetts, which started allowing same-sex marriages last year.

As he spoke, the 20 or so pastors and community members in attendance nodded in agreement and repeated "Amen" after many of his points.

Religion was not gone from those at the gay rights rally, either, as many held signs like "Love is legal in the eyes of the Lord." A bright yellow banner had a picture of a cross with a rainbow cloth draped over it that declared, "God loves you just as you are."

"I would invite these people to open their hearts to God's love that is inclusive and celebrates incredible diversity throughout all creation," said the Rev. Wayne E. Schwandt of the Metropolitan Community Church of the Chesapeake near Annapolis.

He said he attended the rally on behalf of his congregation, to protect civil rights and to celebrate his own 20-year relationship.

"As a parent and a person in a committed relationship we struggle very hard to protect our civil rights. A straight person only has to say 'I do,' " he said.