NEWS RELEASE
Monday, July 12, 2004

EQUALITY MARYLAND
Contact: Dan Furmansky, Executive Director
Phone:    Office 410-685-6567
Cell    301-461-4900
Email:  dan@equalitymaryland.org

TAKOMA PARK CITY COUNCIL PROCLAIMS EFFORTS TO PASS FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT "REPUGNANT"

Maryland Jurisdiction Passes Municipal Resolution on Behalf of Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples

Takoma Park, Md. –– Less than 48 hours before the United States Senate is expected to vote on the proposed federal marriage amendment, the city of Takoma Park has unanimously approved a resolution declaring attempts to amend the U.S. Constitution “repugnant and anathema to the tradition of equality that we as a people hold dear.” The resolution, jointly introduced by council members Bruce R. Williams and Heather Mizeur, gives full recognition to out-of-state same-sex marriages and declares support for legal challenges by lesbian and gay Marylanders to secure their equal rights to marry. All city council members present spoke in favor of the measure.

“The most important message of this resolution is that we as a community value equality and diversity,” said Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Bruce R. Williams. “Marriage in this country conveys many legal rights, and those legal rights are foreclosed to those adults who are prevented from marrying. Children of same-sex couples are also prevented from gaining their full protections, and they suffer from many indignities.”

Takoma Park, a city of about 17,000 residents located just outside of Washington, D.C., was the first Maryland jurisdiction to offer domestic partner health benefits, sick leave and bereavement leave to its employees, in 1988. In 1993, the City established a domestic partner registry for same-sex couples, granting them formal recognition of their relationships.

“Takoma Park is proud to play a leading role in taking a stand for equality for all Marylanders,” said Council Member Heather Mizeur (Ward 2). “There is a strong grassroots showing of support for same-sex marriages throughout this city. Take a drive down any one of our neighborhood streets and you will find home-made yard signs declaring that 'separate but equal is still wrong.' How right they are.”

The resolution declares “discriminatory marriage laws undermine the United States’ and State of Maryland’s constitutional commitment to equality, privacy and justice for all of its citizens.” The resolution also outright opposes the President‘s proposal for a federal Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage “…because the Constitution of the United States is not an instrument of discrimination but our charter of guaranteed liberties.”

“In an effort to turn back the clock on some of the progress achieved by the gay and lesbian community in securing equality under the law, the proponents of the federal marriage amendment have no qualms about using our nation’s most sacred document to permanently shroud gays and lesbians and their children in shame,” said Executive Director Dan Furmansky. “Takoma Park’s elected officials wisely understand that this effort is nothing short of dangerous and that all families deserve the crucial protections of legal marriage.”

###

Equality Maryland is Maryland's largest civil rights organization, focused on making life better for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens of Maryland.   Equality Maryland works to secure and protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Marylanders by promoting legislative initiatives on the state, county and municipal levels and educating the public about the issues faced by our diverse community.

Equality Maryland can be found online at www.equalitymaryland.org