Al Carr Responds to Paul Gordon

Dear Paul,

I appreciate your concerns. One of my priorities as a political leader is to continue to advance civil rights for all.

First of all, let me apologize if you feel I haven't been responsive to you. Just to be clear, I support marriage equality. I have been working for several weeks with Mayor Peter Fosselman to sponsor a municipal resolution encouraging the state legislature to pass the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. As Mayor Pro Tem and legislative leader of the Town of Kensington, I personally invite you to our scheduled monthly Council meeting this Monday, December 10th at 8pm. This item, which I've posted below, has been on our draft agenda since mid-November.

If you have any additional questions, please contact me via my web site www.alcarr.org.

Regards,
Councilman Alfred Carr


RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF KENSINGTON CALLING FOR EQUAL MARRIAGE RIGHTS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES

WHEREAS, marriage is a unique civil institution, administered by the state, and separate and distinct from any religious, ethnic, or other tradition; and

WHEREAS, marriage bestows thousands of state and federal rights, protections, and responsibilities that are otherwise unavailable to gay and lesbian families; and

WHEREAS, the inability to access these legal protections results in significant harms to these families, including financial insecurity, lack of insurance and other benefits, and access to the court system should dissolution occur; and

WHEREAS, discriminatory marriage laws and court decisions undermine Maryland's commitment to equality, privacy, and justice for all of its citizens; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council and Mayor of the Town of Kensington urges the state legislature and Governor to end discrimination against same-sex couples and their families by passing the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, which amends state law to remove references to sex and gender as eligibility requirements for a civil marriage license and by enacting a law providing for equal access to marriage and all of its legal benefits and obligations by all persons, regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.