Martin O'Malley

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday traveled to Baltimore to urge passage of Question 6. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday traveled to Baltimore to urge passage of Question 6, the ballot initiative which asks Maryland voters to uphold ? or reject ? a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers. Bloomberg joined Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake at a press conference held at the Four Seasons Hotel in the city's Harbor East neighborhood. ?When two people commit their lives to each other, government has no right standing in their way,? Bloomberg is quoted as saying by The Baltimore Sun. Bloomberg, considered a key ally in legalizing such unions in New York last year, earlier this month gave $250,000 to the campaign working for passage of Question 6. Bloomberg also joined O'Malley in penning an op-ed titled For Question 6 Because We Love Maryland published Thursday in the Sun. ?Nothing has changed [in New York], except now t

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated $250,000 to the campaign to uphold a gay marriage law in Maryland. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated $250,00 to the campaign to uphold a gay marriage law approved by Maryland lawmakers. The Washington Post reported that it had confirmed the donation on Friday. ?As a business leader and Mayor of New York City, I do not believe that government has any business telling one class of couples that they cannot marry,? Bloomberg said in a fundraising email. ?Maryland will always hold a special place in my heart,? he added. ?I went to college at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, and have remained active in the Hopkins community. So when Governor O'Malley asked me to support Question 6, I didn't hesitate.? Bloomberg, a Republican turned independent, strongly backed marriage equality in New York and played a key role in its passage. ?Two years ago, I was proud to support the effort to pass marriage equality in the State of New York ? an?d the bi-parti

Brendon Ayanbadejo and Martin O'Malley are hosting a fundraiser to benefit the campaign to approve Question 6. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley are hosting a football watching party to benefit the campaign to approve Question 6, which would uphold a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers. The fundraiser will take place Monday evening at sports bar Mother's Federal Hill Grille in Baltimore. ?Look forward to joining @brendon310 & marriage equality supporters tonight to watch MNF (& the O's of course) #Votefor6,? O'Malley tweeted on Monday to his more than 26,000 followers. Ayanbadejo is a strong supporter of marriage equality. Last October he became the first professional athlete to endorse the Marylanders for Marriage Equality campaign, which successfully lobbied for passage of the marriage law. His support attracted national attention last month when Maryland Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr. asked the Ravens to sanction Ayanbadejo for his

Paul Tagliabue and his wife have donated $100,000 to the campaign to uphold a gay marriage law in Maryland. Former National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his wife have donated $100,000 to the campaign to uphold a gay marriage law approved by Maryland lawmakers. According to gay weekly the Washington Blade, Tagliabue made the donation during a Marylanders for Marriage Equality fundraiser held Tuesday at the D.C. home of Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf. ?We had the privilege of raising our family in Maryland,? Taglibue said at the event. ?We have the privilege of now living in the District of Columbia. We've lived in New York, where they passed marriage equality. We spend time in the summer in Maine, where they are fighting it again. I think this is the time to view this not as an expense, but as a capital investment in our nation's infrastructure.? ?You pass it in the legislature, the will of the people has been expressed and you get litigation. In New York,

Adam Lambert is set to headline a fundraiser concert to benefit Marylanders for Marriage Equality. Adam Lambert is set to headline a fundraiser concert to benefit Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the group working to uphold a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers. The concert will be held on Tuesday, September 25 at the 9:30 Club, the legendary live music club located in the U Street neighborhood of Washington, D.C. ?JUST ANNOUNCED! A benefit for Marriage Equality feat. @AdamLambert on 9/25! Tix on sale Fri 10AM!? the 9:30 Club tweeted. ?Marriage equality is about treating everyone as equals, regardless of who they fall in love with,? Lambert said in a statement. ?I'm honored to appear at this event to help do whatever I can to bring notice to a cause that is close to my heart.? Josh Levin, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, thanked Lambert for his support. ?As the campaign enters the final weeks, we're thrilled to have Adam Lambert's support of Question 6 in Ma

Susan Sarandon, John Waters and Ed Norton were among the celebrities helping to raise funds for Maryland gay marriage. ?Susan Sarandon, John Waters and Ed Norton were among the celebrities helping to raise funds in support of the campaign to uphold a gay marriage law approved by Maryland lawmakers. Voters on November 6 will decide whether the law takes effect on January 1 or is repealed. Also attending Friday's fundraiser at James Hotel in New York City were Thomas Roberts, Sandra Bernhard, Barbara Bush and Russell Simmons. The event was organized by Josh Charles and Brian Ellner. ?The battle is on in Maryland,? Governor Martin O'Malley told the crowd. ?And we all need to get up for this fight. ? We are going to succeed only if we help one another.? Baltimore native John Waters said he wanted Maryland to be the first state to win marriage equality at the polls. ?Why would anybody be against gay marriage. It's hard for me to understand. No matter what your politics are, we all know how

Julian Bond, chairman emeritus of the NAACP, believes its time African-Americans started talking about gay marriage. Julian Bond, chairman emeritus of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), believes its time African-Americans started talking about gay marriage. In an op-ed titled Why Marriage in Maryland Matters and published in the Afro-American, Bond calls on America to widen the discussion on marriage. ?Let's face it: Marriage for gay and lesbian couples is often perceived as a White issue. Yet, there are thousands of African-Americans ? who are gay, in committed relationships and want to marry. ? So it's probably time the country started talking about the issue in more diverse terms ? and time the African-American community started, well, talking about it,? Bond wrote. ?And there's no better place to begin this work than in Maryland, where a quarter of voters are Black. Marylanders are heading to the polls in November to uphold or undo the same-sex

US President Barack Obama was in the blue-collar heartland of Ohio Monday, seeking to energize his labor union base after accusing Republican foe Mitt Romney of failing to offer "a single new idea" to solve the country's problems.

US President Barack Obama accused Republican foe Mitt Romney of failing to offer "a single new idea" and of being a relic of the last century as he revved up a pre-convention tour.

US President Barack Obama accused Republican foe Mitt Romney on Sunday of failing to offer "a single new idea" and being a relic of the last century as he revved up a pre-convention tour.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Edward Norton are among the celebrities set to appear at a fundraiser to support gay marriage. ?Sarah Jessica Parker, Edward Norton and Susan Sarandon are among the celebrities set to appear at a fundraiser to support Maryland's gay marriage law. The event, to be held September 13 at New York City's James Hotel, will be hosted by Brian Ellner and Josh Charles. Earlier this year, Maryland lawmakers approved the marriage law, which does not take effect until January 1. Opponents gathered sufficient signatures to put the measure up to a popular vote in November. Maryland's referendum is one of four taking place this year. Other states include Maine, Minnesota and Washington state. Scheduled to appear at the fundraiser is Governor Martin O'Malley, who called on lawmakers to approve the law. Other celebrities listed as hosts include Sean Avery, Sandra Bernhard, Barbara Bush, Paul Boskind, Andy Cohen, Tom Colicchio, Ryan Greenawalt, Cornelia Guest, Julianna Margulies

An upcoming referendum on gay marriage in Maryland is threatened by a gambling proposal, marriage equality supporters say. An upcoming referendum on gay marriage in Maryland is threatened by a gambling proposal, marriage equality supporters say. Maryland lawmakers approved and Governor Martin O'Malley signed a measure legalizing gay marriage earlier this year. The law won't take effect until January 1, 2013, giving opponents sufficient time to attempt to repeal the law at the ballot box in November. O'Malley is also backing a proposal to open the state's sixth casino to be built in conservative Prince George County and is expected to introduce a draft bill to lawmakers on Friday. If approved during a special session, voters would decide on the measure in the fall. ?Gambling overwhelms every issue in the state,? Chrys Kefalas, former legal counsel to former Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr, told The Washington Post. ?This is a big fight with the potential for collateral damage.? A gambling

Top Democrats have launched a coordinated assault on Mitt Romney's use of offshore tax havens, demanding that he release more tax returns in order to explain himself to the American people.

Top Democrats launched a coordinated assault Sunday on Mitt Romney's use of offshore tax havens, demanding that he release more tax returns in order to explain himself to the American people.

Backers of keeping Maryland's gay marriage law turned to Baltimore's annual Gay Pride to gather support for a looming ballot fight. Backers of keeping Maryland's gay marriage law turned to Baltimore's annual Gay Pride Festival on Sunday to gather support for a looming ballot fight. On the final day of Baltimore Pride, volunteers for both the Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition and the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama spread throughout the festival grounds, the Baltimore Sun reported. Maryland lawmakers approved and Governor Martin O'Malley signed a measure legalizing gay marriage earlier this year. The law won't take effect until January 1, 2013, giving opponents sufficient time to attempt to repeal the law at the ballot box in November. Supporters passed out stickers, sold t-shirts, registered voters and recruited volunteers at the annual celebration which took place at Druid Hill Park. ?This is about people's lives,? Kevin Nix, a spokesman for Marylanders for Ma

Obama on Tuesday called on Maryland voters to oppose a proposed referendum which seeks to repeal the state's gay marriage law. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Maryland voters to oppose a proposed referendum which seeks to repeal the state's gay marriage law. Maryland lawmakers approved and Governor Martin O'Malley signed a measure legalizing gay marriage earlier this year. The law won't take effect until January 1, 2013, giving opponents sufficient time to attempt to repeal the law at the ballot box in November. ?We're moving forward to a country where we treat everybody fairly and everybody equally, with dignity and respect,? gay weekly the Washington Blade quoted Obama as saying during a campaign fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency in Baltimore. ?And here in Maryland, thanks to the leadership of committed citizens and Gov. O'Malley, you have a chance to reaffirm that principle in the voting booth in November. It's the right thing to do.? While it is not the first time the pre

Opponents of Maryland's gay marriage law plan on Tuesday to deliver the first batch of petitions needed to put the law up for a vote. Opponents of Maryland's gay marriage law plan on Tuesday to deliver the first batch of petitions needed to put the law up to a popular vote. ?The reality is there is incredible excitement out there,? Pastor Derek McCoy, executive director of the Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is leading the effort to force a November vote on the law, told The Baltimore Sun. ?I don't think there is anything that has hit Maryland like this in years.? Opponents have until Thursday to turn in one-third (18,579) of the 55,736 valid voter signatures needed to secure a slot on this year's ballot. The remaining signatures are due by June 30. The legislation, which was heavily championed by Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley, passed the General Assembly in March but won't go into effect until January. ?We're going to put this thing to rest,? Delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr, a Bal

A majority of Maryland voters say they support gay marriage. A majority of Maryland voters say they support gay marriage. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in March signed a gay marriage bill approved by lawmakers into law, making Maryland the eighth state to legalize such unions. Opponent have vowed to put the law up for a vote in November. Nearly 56,000 valid signatures, one-third of which would need to be submitted by May 31, with the remainder by June 30, are needed to put the measure on the ballot. The campaign is being organized by Maryland Marriage Alliance, which is supported by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). According to a Public Polling Policy (PPP) survey of 852 likely voters conducted between May 14 and 21 and commissioned by gay marriage advocate Marylanders for Marriage Equality, 57 percent of respondents said they would vote to keep the law, a 5 point increase from March. Thirty-seven percent said they would vote to repeal it, a 7 point decrease. The incre

Gay rights groups cheered the announcement by US President Barack Obama that he supports same-sex marriage, but conservatives swiftly denounced his landmark stance.

Gay rights groups cheered Wednesday's announcement by US President Barack Obama that he supports same-sex marriage, but conservatives swiftly denounced his landmark stance.