Citizens Around the Nation Applaud
Jamie's Leadership on the Issue of
Marriage Equality

In the MD State Senate, Raskin Will Be an Effective Leader for Civil Rights for
All Marylanders

On Wednesday, March 1st, at the invitation of Equality Maryland, Jamie testified in front of the Maryland State Senate against the proposed anti-gay amendment (Senate Bill 690) that would write discrimination into the state Constitution. Jamie spoke eloquently and forcefully on the side of full marriage equality in testimony that is being circulated widely across America, including in the blogosphere,such as on DailyKos.com, Arianna Huffington's blog, and numerous other websites dealing with civil rights and liberties and church-state issues. Since then, the response from around the nation has been overwhelming, with hundreds of letters of support flowing in from those committed to civil rights and social justice.

I wish to thank you for your outstanding testimony, March 1, to the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Your quip to Senator Jacobs is what brought you to my attention, but the testimony is even better. Of course I may be saying this because I agree with your analysis. In some countries it is quite clear: there is the civil wedding and the religious one. Here in the U.S., we have blurred the distinction and perhaps are paying for that now. It's an interesting time: we seem to be, all over again, in civics discussions, hopefully better learning and understanding the underpinnings of our government.

Your testimony seemed clear and cogent, and seemed to reach what I think of as the pinnacle of writing or speechifying -- reflecting deep learning and understanding in a way which most anyone could understand.

With best wishes for your electoral success.

David Gilmartin
(Unitarian Universalist minister, retired)

I personally would like to thank you for your heart felt comments on March 1st concerning Senate Bill 690 - a bill to ban marriage from gay couples. I have a lot at stake in this as I've been with my partner for 31 years. We worry about the future and what will happen to us. We have drafted wills, power of attorney, and the like. All of this after threats from my family back in Idaho (we live in Connecticut) - a family who hasn't talked to me in 25 years, of coming in after I'm dead and demanding that my half of our estate be handed over to them. They do this because they claim that to the law, we are "legal strangers". Such a thing recently happened in Oklahoma, and that gay couple also had wills that were overturned by a judge.

And sadly, our attorney, after we have spent thousands of dollars trying to have these basic protections, has told us, "...and with all these documents, there are still no guarantees. There is nothing I can draw up for you that has the sweeping power of marriage."

Last year, Connecticut instituted "civil unions" to give us most of the rights of marriage. We have decided not to partake in that second-class status. It is truly an insult that despite the fact that everything has tried to destroy what we have together, after 31 years, we are still together. He is my life partner. We have earned marriage. We deserve marriage.

So, your address gave me hope. It actually made my cry, because my hope came from not someone in the gay community, but from a heterosexual married man with three children. And I thought to myself, "My God, someone really understands us and what this feels like - someone from their side." So, I cried.

You have given me hope that before I die (I'm 51 years old now and healthy), that we will be able to tell our friends who have become our family, that we re-dedicate our lives to each other, in marriage. Thank you for giving me that hope.

Sincerely,

Bill Cannon
Coventry, CT

Far too many politicians today have any claim to legitimacy on any issue, much less Gay Marriage. It is with growing dismay that I see our liberties and rights stripped away from us, or our friends, while the masses stand by like sheep. Thank you for being frank and logical. I am not from your district, much less from Maryland. I currently reside in VA where the state is poised to almost assuredly write discrimination into the constitution. Such steps as you have taken make me proud to be an American.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Gott

I just read your response to Nancy Jacobs, and I wanted to stand and applaud! Anyone who stands up to these religious right-wing nutjobs in this country deserves my support (even though I live on the opposite side of the country). I just sent a small donation via Paypal to help you defray some of the costs in your Senate election bid. Best of luck.

Mark Kouts
Phoenix, AZ

Best of luck on your campaign. Although I don't live anywhere near Maryland, I will be sending in a contribution to support your candidacy. The country needs more clear-headed people like you in political office.

Regards,

Clay Sales
Seattle, WA

I was sent a snippet of your testimony of March 1st in an e-mail. What you said pique my curiosity and so I went searching for more information. After reading what you had to say on your website I felt compelled to write and say thank you. What a clean, clear and concise explanation you have presented. Facts are stated and emotion is kept to a dull squeak. I am impressed and will keep a sharp eye on you for the next few months. I hope to see you go far!

Abigail Brewer
(a democrat from Frederick County)

Keep fighting the good fight.

Christy Marx

-Rose