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Posted on Advocate.com February 02, 2011
Key Md. Republican Backs Marriage
By Julie Bolcer
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Sen. Allan Kittleman
announced his support for
the marriage equality bill in
Maryland on Wednesday,
becoming the first, and
perhaps the only,
Republican senator to
support the measure in a
move expected to
strengthen its prospects for
passage.
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The senator released a
statement one day after
publicly breaking ranks
with his Republican
colleagues, who voted as a
caucus to oppose the
Allan and Robin Kittleman
measure pending in the
state legislature. In the
statement, he also announced that he would abandon his proposal for a civil unions bill, a
consensus attempt he conceived last month that failed to gain traction among gay rights
activists and senators from either party.
Kittleman, the son of the late state senator and civil rights leader Robert H. Kittleman,
explained his decision in an interview with The Advocate.
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“My primary goal was equal rights for same-sex couples,” he said. “After four weeks of
looking at [the civil unions bill] it was evident to me that there wasn’t going to be any desire
to go that way, although the folks knew I was trying to do what I thought was best. I really
am looking forward to supporting Senate Bill 116.”
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Senate Bill 116, officially called the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act, was
introduced in the Maryland senate and house of delegates last month. A hearing is scheduled
for Tuesday in the senate’s judicial proceedings committee.
Last month, Kittleman abruptly stepped down as senate minority leader over disagreement
with more socially conservative Republican colleagues about his civil union bill. He
anticipated he might be the only senator from his party to support the marriage equality bill,
although he cautioned that time remains in the session to change minds.
"Right now I am not optimistic that there will be any of my colleagues in the senate,” he
said. “The only indication I have is that most if not all oppose it.”
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I like this guy and if he ran for President I'd vote for him. A fiscal conservative and he supports
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Comment:
It takes a lot of guts to break rank from one's own party like that and take a stand for what's right.
Way to go Senator Kittleman!
Name: Larry
Date posted: 2/2/2011 7:53:34 PM
Hometown: Lutherville, MD
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Comment:
As someone who lives in Maryland with my partner of 20 years, I am happy Mr. Kittleman is here
to challenge conventional Republican views. I agree with his view of what the Republican party
should be and hope for the day when it will return to those ideals. After all the past let-downs in
Maryland, I am holding out hope for this bill's passage.
Name: Deanne
Date posted: 2/2/2011 5:46:46 PM
Hometown: New Orleans
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making all of your Republican friends fascist. Fascist –noun a member of a fascist movement or
party. a person who is dictatorial or has extreme right-wing views.
Name: Dana
Date posted: 2/2/2011 4:12:24 PM
Hometown: Leominster
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Comment:
Thankyou Senator Kittleman for having the courage to stand up for truth and the American way.
Name: Dan
Date posted: 2/2/2011 3:56:27 PM
Hometown: Pittsfield
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Comment:
And ever other Republican there, whose salaries and family benefits are paid for by gay taxpayers'
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Shame.
Name: Canadian JAG
Date posted: 2/2/2011 2:27:01 PM
Hometown: Ottawa
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Wow, a true leader and a true Christian! I love this man!
John the Divine
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