Carroll Commissioners Respond to Senate Passage of Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The Maryland State Senate passed same-sex marriage, 25-22, Thursday night, less than a week after the House of Delegates passed the identical bill. Gov. Martin O'Malley supports same-sex marriage legislation and is expected to sign the bill.

Carroll County government officials were vocal in opposing the bill, with Commissioner Haven Shoemaker (R-District 2) already planning for the next step. 

"I'm looking forward to signing a petition to put this to referendum," Shoemaker said. 

Earlier this month, Carroll County Commissioner Robin Frazier (R-District 1) announced the board’s proclamation designating Feb. 7-14 as “marriage week” and recognizing marriage as an institution that “binds men and women together in a network of mutual aid and mutual obligation,” according to the document signed by the five commissioners.

Carroll County delegates and senators followed a similar pattern, with all but one state senator voting against the bill. 

How the House of Delegate voted last week: 

• Donald Elliott, R, District 4, Against
• Sue Krebs, R, District 9, Against
• Justin Ready, R, District 5, Against
• Nancy Stocksdale, R, District 5, Against

How the Maryland State Senate voted Thursday: 

• David Brinkley, R, 4, Against
• Joseph Getty, R, 5, Against
• Allan Kittleman, R, 9, For

Frazier wrote in an e-mail to Patch on Friday that she is firm in her belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. 

"The Same Sex Marriage Bill is not about rights and lack of rights, it is about right and wrong," Frazier said. "Homosexuals have all the same rights as any cohabiting couple, they just cannot be married, because marriage is an institution created by God."

"God and the U.S. Congress define marriage as being between one man and one woman."

Frazier, who attended the rally against the bill in Annapolis earlier this month, said she disagrees with the way state government handled the bill. 

"Mrs. (Katie) O’Malley was right," Frazier wrote referring to the wife of Gov. Martin O'Malley. "Many folks that voted against the Same Sex Marriage Bill were cowards, they fear God, and the fear of the Lord, by the way, is the beginning of wisdom."

"We need some new, bold and wise representation in Annapolis and in DC."