Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Church Circle filled with more than 250 people who came to protest a demonstration against same-sex marriage by the Westboro Baptist Church.
More than 250 counter-protesters greeted four members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) with signs, church hymns and cookies in Annapolis on Wednesday morning. The WBC group came to Maryland's capital to protest at the Anne Arundel Circuit Court on Church Circle against same-sex marriage. Maryland voters upheld a law legalizing gay marriage in November, but the law took effect Tuesday. Since state offices were closed for New Year's Day, Wednesday was the first time couples could marry inside the courthouse. Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of church founder Fred Phelps, sang songs and shouted that God sent the shooter to Newtown, CT, as Annapolis police officers kept passersby moving along the sidewalk in front of the …
Monday, December 31, 2012
Some deputy clerks in St. Mary's County have asked to be excused from performing gay marriages. No Anne Arundel County employees have come forward.
As circuit courts across Maryland prepare for the first same-sex couples to wed, some public employees are asking to be excused from performing the ceremonies. Deputy clerks in St. Mary's County have asked to be excused citing their religious opposition to gay marriage, according to The Washington Examiner. Circuit Court Clerk Joan Williams told The Examiner that she decided to excuse those employees from performing any marriage ceremonies, saying she respects their decision. Maryland voters upheld a law legalizing gay marriage on Nov. 6. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, but Circuit Courts across Maryland will be closed. The first time same-sex couples will be able to wed at the courthouses will be on Jan. 2. None of the eight employees…
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Discover Annapolis Tours says they have shut down their wedding services—which earn the company $50,000 a year—indefinitely.
An Annapolis wedding vendor plans to ask Maryland's General Assembly to give his company and others like him the right to refuse services to gay couples on religious grounds. In November, Marylanders voted to uphold a law, passed by the General Assembly during the 2012 legislative session, that legalized same-sex marriages starting Jan. 1. "The law exempts my minister from doing same-sex weddings, and the Knights of Columbus don’t have to rent out their hall for a gay wedding reception, but somehow my religious convictions don’t count for anything," Discover Annapolis Tours owner Matt Grubbs wrote in an email. The email was provided to Patch by Chris Belkot on Nov. 29. He received it from Grubbs after Belkot inquired about using the …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Scott Bowling is a local civil rights activist and was the first openly gay candidate to run for Annapolis City Council in 2009.
I write to you today from a 6th floor room at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC). On Monday, October 22nd, I was taken by ambulance from my home in Annapolis to Anne Arundel Medical Center. I had passed out, become unresponsive, and was suffering from what Doctors would soon diagnose as a potentially fatal internal blood infection, Septic Shock, and severe Kidney Failure. I was admitted directly to the Critical Care Unit where over the next several days they would stabilize my condition and bring me to a point where I am now preparing to be discharged and continue my recovery at home. In the emergency room, many caring and dedicated Doctors and Nurses cared for me; however, there was one team whose words and level of care I will not soon …
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The Republican Congressional candidate for Maryland's 4th District plans to eat at several Chick-fil-A locations Wednesday to show support for the president of the company's public stance.
Republican Faith Loudon plans to show her support for Chick-fil-A and her opposition to gay marriage by eating at at least three area restaurants today, according to the Capital Gazette. The fast food chain made national headlines earlier this month when its president, Dan Cathy, publicly condemned gay marriage. "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is about," Cathy said in an interview with the Baptist Press. Reaction from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocates and bloggers soon created a media firestorm. Republican Mike Huckabee waded into the debate by starting a Facebook group to support Chick-fil-A that has…
Friday, July 22, 2011
Legislators and supporters confident governor's involvement will secure passage in 2012.
Gov. Martin O'Malley announced plans on Friday to introduce legislation supporting gay marriage in 2012.
Roxy White
11:03 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013
I know our particular group that attended was more about supporting the LGBT community members who were getting married as they entered the courthouse as opposed to giving Shirley Phelps-Roper the time of day. more ›