My Testimony at the Senate Hearing

MR. CHAIRMAN, SENATORS:

I AM THE MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF CHEVY CHASE AND PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY. I AM SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 116, THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CIVIL MARRIGE PROTECTION ACT.

THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT OF OUR REPUBLIC DECLARES “WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”

MUCH OF THE HISTORY OF AMERICA HAS BEEN THE FIGHT TO FULFILL THIS PROMISE.

AMERICA GRANTED WOMEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 1920. IN THE 1930S, A YOUNG MAN WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF LAW BASED ON THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN. UNDAUNTED, HE LED THE FIGHT TO BREAK THE LEGAL BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION AND EQUALITY.

NOT FAR FROM THIS BUILDING, THE CENTRAL PLAZA OF OUR STATE CAPITAL HOLDS A STATUE AND THE WORDS OF THIS SAME GREAT MAN IN HOMAGE TO HIS VISION THAT HELPED OUR NATION BECOME A MORE PERFECT UNION.

SO, ALTHOUGH THE TRADITION AT HEARINGS SUCH AS THESE IS THAT ONE COMES TO BEG, TO PLEAD, AND TO ASK POLITELY FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS, I COME NOT TO ASK BUT TO DEMAND MY RIGHTS AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO WORRY THAT WHEN MY PARTNER BROKE HIS WRIST THAT I WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HIS BEDSIDE IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. OR THAT HE’LL LOSE OUR HOME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE WAY HOME. IT’S WRONG AND IT’S UN-AMERICAN.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, MY RELATIONSHIP OF TWELVE YEARS SHOULD BE—BY RIGHT AND BY LAW—GRANTED THE SAME DIGNITY AS ANY OTHER MARRIAGE IN MARYLAND.

AND THIS DECISION IS NOT JUST ABOUT COUPLES BUT ABOUT ALL THE GAY AND LESBIAN KIDS IN OUR STATE. DO YOU WANT THEM—OR THEIR PEERS—TO GROW UP THINKING THAT THEY ARE LESS VALUED THAN OTHER KIDS? DO YOU WANT TO SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE SOMEHOW DEFECTIVE? THAT THEIR LIVES AND THEIR LOVE ARE LESS WORTHY?

I IMAGINE THAT MUCH WILL BE MADE OF THE CATHOLIC HERITAGE OF OUR STATE. I DON’T FEAR THIS HERITAGE—I EMBRACE IT. BECAUSE I DON’T FORGET THAT MARYLAND WAS FOUNDED AS A HAVEN FOR THOSE PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH. AND AMERICA WAS FOUNDED WITH THE IDEAL THAT ALL RELIGIONS SHALL PROSPER BUT THAT NO RELIGIOUS DOGMA WILL GOVERN.

LET MY FAITH ALLOW ME TO MARRY IF IT SO CHOOSES.

I NEVER COULD HAVE DREAMED WHEN I WAS GROWING UP THAT I COULD GET ELECTED MAYOR AS AN OPENLY-GAY INDIVIDUAL. IN MY FIRST ELECTION AGAINST SEVERAL INCUMBENTS, MANY PEOPLE VOTED FOR ME. AND MANY VOTED AGAINST ME. BUT I’M PROUD TO SAY THAT I DON’T KNOW OF A SINGLE PERSON WHO VOTED FOR ME OR AGAINST ME BECAUSE I LOVE A MAN INSTEAD OF A WOMAN.

SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS WHETHER MARYLAND WANTS TO BUILD ANOTHER STATUE IN A FEW DECADES. OR, INSTEAD, THIS TIME TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF CURRENT EFFORTS TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.

IN THAT SPIRIT, I HOPE YOUR VOTE WILL REFLECT THE CONTENT OF WHAT I KNOW TO BE THE STATE OF MARYLAND’S CHARACTER.

THANK YOU.