While the Betterton Council Election has been decided and the new City Council is preparing for its first meeting, there is still the State and National ballots to be filed, counted and the new order to be determined. This coming Monday, October 29th is the beginning of early balloting in our State so if you can't get to the polls on Tuesday November 6th, go early and vote at the Kent County Library. Of critical importance on a State level is the Equality referendum # 6 that will not only reinforce our US Constitution that declares all people equal but specifically will allow Gay and Lesbian couples to marry. The PFLAG (parents and friends of lesbian and gays) gathering at Fountain Park that made the Kent County News' front page emphasized that we have not only good neighbors but strong leaders in our State who are lesbian and gays who cannot formally declare their relationships under present law. Right now we are not a State where all people are equal. Many lesbian and gay couples have children who are being raised in loving homes, yet their parents (both natural and adopted) cannot be married. Contrary to what opponents are saying, this referendum if passed will NOT stifle religious freedom but actually enhance it, whereby anyone in the State with the legal right to perform a marriage will be able to do so, and those that don't wish to do so will not be required. What this referendum will do is assure that when a spouse is ill, the other spouse regardless of sex will be able to visit and care for their ill or disabled spouse without discrimination nor a court declared order. Family's will remain stable and financially secure when one spouse dies or is severely injured just as heterosexual couples do today. There was a time when women couldn't vote, when African Americans rode in the back of the bus or worse had to leave towns such as Betterton after 4:30 PM. However, as our Nation has matured we have corrected those wrongs and on November 6th YOU will have an opportunity to strengthen these freedoms with a Yes on Referendum # 6.
Equality Maryland
