Matt Palmer of the Catholic Review:
Maryland First Lady Katie O’Malley has apologized for calling members of the House of Delegates who opposed voting on changing the definition of marriage in 2011 “cowards.”
A bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in Maryland was never voted on in the House of Delegates after passing in the Senate last year. The bill was returned to the House Judiciary Committee after a lengthy debate.
O’Malley created a firestorm Jan. 26 at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference in Baltimore when making the comments about the House of Delegates.
“We didn’t expect the things that happened to the House of Delegates to occur, but sadly they did, and there were some cowards that prevented it from passing,” Katie O’Malley said.
O’Malley also made comments about how religious organizations should not be involved in the debate.
... After word leaked out that Katie O’Malley made the comments, she was roundly criticized throughout the state. It forced her to release a statement the morning of Jan. 27.
“I regret my recent choice of words at the Creating Change Conference last night,” she said. “I let my feelings get the better of me. I deeply respect that there are strongly held and differing views on marriage equality in Maryland, but hope that our state’s elected officials will come together to fairly address this important issue for our families and children.”
... Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of the MCC, bristled at O’Malley’s comments and defended the House of Delegates.
“It’s completely ironic that anyone would call legislators who stood up for traditional marriage cowards,” Russell said. “It took extraordinary courage on their part to withstand the arm-twisting and political pressure that they were under last year, and it will take the same kind of courage and even more this year.”
21 Comments
But of course, she's right. That's why we need to celebrate the courage and convictions of Mark Grisanti of NY.
If only Grisanti HAD any I'd still be able to contemplate marrying in my home state in good conscience!
"Cowards", "crazies"... The tolerance brigade never runs out of insults.
Still waiting for Santorum's apologies.
Glad she acknowledged her inappropriate statement. Hopefully others will follow her lead. People generally resort to name calling when they don't have a solid argument.
Louis E - How does the potential Mrs. E feel about you not wanting to marry in your home state because your home state stood up for the rights of gay people? Does she share your views?
Mike J.
You will be waiting a very long time for an apology from Santorum he will never apologize for something he truly believes in.
And I support him in everything he says.
The real cowards are those politicians who seek to change the laws regarding marriage behind the backs of the public because they know that if they put it up to a vote, the gays will lose hands down in every single state, including the land of the fruits, California. But of course, O'Malley doesn't see things quite that way. It isn't convenient for her to tell the truth or to look at things the way they really are.
Mark Grisanti promised he would vote against same sex marriage, while campaigning, then succumbed to the pressure of homosexual rights groups and voted for it. That's not courage.
Diana, it's convenient for her and millions like her. Your concept of truth seems very clouded by your ugly disposition.
There's already 'equality', First Lady Katie O’Malley (so now she has a nobility status?). She gives lip service: 'I deeply respect that there are strongly held and differing views on marriage equality in Maryland'.... No she doesn't. She calls for 'marriage sympathy', which is not grounds for legislation. Sympathy leads to inequality. Get real.
JR,I wouldn't be likely to marry anyone who thought there was a legitimate question of "rights of gay people" when it came to the obligation of governments to recognize the unique importance of opposite-sex relationships to humanity by guaranteeing them the preferential treatment to which their being opposite-sex entitles them.
Morality, truth, common sense, God's word is always being assaulted by the immoral, the sinful.
Marriage can only be between opposite sex couples. Anything else is a sham, a lie, a farce.
"Marriage Equality" is not only a flawed and illogical stance that attacks marriage.... It shows that if people are not immoral, it shows that they are seriously prone to believing utter complete bollocks.
"Marriage Equality" opens up a huge pandoras box that erases the line between right and wrong.... Once Gays have the right, what is to stop incestous unions and animal unions or multiple marriage from happening?
There are clearly lines that should never be crossed.... this is one of the most fundamental.
It has been already shown and proven that homosexuality is in no way equal to normal and moral behavior.
Speaking of equality when they issued marriage licnenses they created inequaltiy between singles and married people. Notice they hyprocrisy and double standard regarding that.
John can you cite a single peer-reviewed paper that demonstrates how "immoral" and "abnormal" homosexuality is?
moral people will never support ssm....
Layne,morality is not subject to "peer review"...we have no say in what it is,only the obligation to discern and submit to it.
I submitted a detailed response about the well known dangers of the medical and biological implications of anal sex. This was in response to poster #15.
John N,criticism of anal sex is entirely beside the point.The wrong thing about same-sex sex is that the partners are of the same sex,not what sex act they are indulging in.
Hah, what a hypocrite Katie O'Malley is! As soon as she was "roundly criticized" she backed down and apologized. I'm sure its insincere but who's the coward now!!!