Takoma Park, MD Resolution in Support of Same Sex Marriage

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 7/14/04 
Vote: Unanimous
Source File: http://www.equalitymaryland.org/takoma_park_resolution_2004.07.12.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-35
(Supporting same-sex marriage in Maryland, committing to municipal recognition of out of state same-sex marriages, educating the public, and calling upon all public and private entities to give legal recognition to such marriages)
WHEREAS, marriage is one of the fundamental elements of individual liberty; and
WHEREAS,the institution of marriage serves as one of the building blocks of society, strengthening and stabilizing relationships between individuals; and
WHEREAS, the institution of marriage provides benefits to society through a system of laws that
regulate inheritance, the provision of benefits from government and private programs, the provision of
medical care to persons who are not able to make their own medical decisions, and responsibility for
financial obligations, among other areas; and
WHEREAS, extending the institution of marriage to same-sex couples gives entities such as the
courts, government and private programs, medical institutions, banks, and others the benefits of using the established legal structure that surrounds marriage in serving same-sex couples; and
WHEREAS, the opportunity to commit publicly and legally to share one’s life with a person of one’s choice is a central aspect of the human experience, and denial of marriage to same-sex couples is a denial of fundamental civil rights; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park understands that marriage develops from a couple’s desire
for love, security, and family, and that such desires is not confined to the heterosexual population; and
WHEREAS, same-sex marriage, as any other marriage, provides family stability and personal happiness to gay and lesbian couples, their children, and their extended families; and
WHEREAS, contemporary studies find no support for a concern that the children of lesbian and
gay parents are harmed by the sexual orientation of their parents; and our experience in Takoma Park
confirms the conclusion that the children of gay and lesbian parents are thriving as well as other children in our community; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution clearly states that no laws will be made depriving any
person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution states that no person within its jurisdiction will be
denied equal protection of the laws; and
WHEREAS, all amendments to the United States Constitution heretofore either clarified or
expanded the nation’s vision of equality, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and
WHEREAS, the equal protection provision of the Maryland Constitution Declaration of Rights prohibits gender-based classifications and the basic principle of Maryland’s Equal Rights Amendment is that sex is not a permissible factor in determining the legal rights of women, or men, so that the treatment of any person may not be based upon the circumstance that such person or their spouse is
of one sex or the other; and
WHEREAS, the freedom of religion provision of the Maryland Constitution Declaration of Rights
states that all persons are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty and that denying the validity of a same-sex religious commitment ceremony violates the same-sex couple’s freedom of religion rights; and
WHEREAS, the State of Maryland has not adopted a Defense of Marriage Act; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory laws result, especially, in significant harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people by perpetuating homophobia, just as anti-miscegenation laws barring people of
different races from marrying perpetuated racism and social ostracism; and
WHEREAS, denying civil marriage to lesbian and gay couples would deprive thousands of people of certain rights, privileges, immunities, protections, and responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, discriminatory marriage laws undermine the United States’ and State of Maryland’s
constitutional commitment to equality, privacy and justice for all of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park has by local practice, policy, and ordinance shown its
commitment to fair and equitable treatment of all and by affording equal rights and benefits to the
numerous gay and lesbian couples residing in the City, has consistently been striving to set an example of excellence in the non-discriminatory treatment of all persons and the promotion of the ideal of diversity; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park wants to educate the public, as well as the private and
governmental entities on the value and legality of same-sex marriages; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park finds any attempt to codify discrimination into the United
States Constitution repugnant and anathema to the tradition of equality that we as a people hold dear; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park opposes the proposal for a Constitutional Amendment to ban
same-sex marriage because the United States Constitution is no place for discrimination against citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park finds that a fundamental truth was established that
governmental oppression of any kind based on discrimination diminishes us as human beings, so the
United States Constitution was designed and written to protect the rights of the minority from the tyranny of the majority; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park calls upon the State of Maryland and its county governments
to legalize same-sex marriages and to issue such marriage licenses; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park calls upon public entities and private entities, particularly
including insurance companies and other benefit providers, to recognize same-sex marriages as lawful and desirable; and
WHEREAS, the City of Takoma Park urges the repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which
restricts marriage to a union between a man and a woman.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND THAT the concept of same-sex marriage is hereby supported both in public law and in private practice; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City will give full recognition up to the limits of its legal
authority to out-of-state and foreign same-sex marriages; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City will direct its energies to a public campaign of education about equality in marriage. The City will use its resources to coordinate activities among other
local governments and private enterprises in furtherance of its educational campaign; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City will file an amicus curiae brief in support of the Plaintiffs in Deane and Polyak, et. al v. Conaway, Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk, et. al; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Clerk shall transmit certified copies of this Resolution to federal, state, county and local officials, as well as the press.
Category:City Governments
Category:LGBT
Category:Maryland
Category:Resolutions
Category:Takoma Park