Rich Madaleno Questions Sending Maryland National Guard to Iraq

The Maryland Legislative session may winding down, but last week there was heated debate about plans to send 1,300 members of the Maryland National Guard to Iraq.

Rich Madaleno, a new state Senator and former member of House of Delegate, attempted to introduce legislation challenging the decision.

His legislation called on the Governor and Congressional Delegation of Maryland to oppose this deployment unless unless our troops were properly equipped, properly trained for combat in Iraq, and that there was a plan for their redeployment out of Iraq.

This late in the session two-thirds of the Senate must vote to suspend the rules in order to introduce new legislation. Unfortunately, the vote fell short of that mark.

The resolution in it's entirety is printed below:

By: Senators Madaleno and Pinsky

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Senate Joint Resolution concerning Mobilization of Members of Maryland National Guard for Duty in the War in Iraq

FOR the purpose of urging the Governor and the Maryland Congressional Delegation to voice their opposition to the most recent mobilization order of members of the Maryland National Guard and to call for a rescission of the order unless certain conditions are shown to be met; and generally relating to a mobilization of members of the Maryland National Guard to go to Iraq.

WHEREAS, Approximately 1,300 members of the Maryland National Guard have been called to serve in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, There are only an estimated 7,000 members of the Maryland National Guard and many have recently served in repeated deployments; and

WHEREAS, To date, more than 3,200 of the U.S. military have died in the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, The Inspector General of the Department of Defense has found that the Pentagon has not been able to properly equip the soldiers it already has with many lacking adequate weapons, ammunition, armor, and other supplies to “effectively complete their missions;” and

WHEREAS, Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are considering legislative proposals relating to military operations in Iraq that include demands for the withdrawal of most U.S. troops from Iraq by 2008; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Governor and the Maryland Congressional delegation are urged to voice their opposition to the most recent mobilization order potentially affecting members of the Maryland National Guard and call for a rescission of the order unless it can be shown that (1) the members will be fully equipped with sufficiently protective body armor and armored vehicles and other necessary weapons and equipment; (2) the members will be fully and adequately trained for combat in Iraq; and (3) there is an official redeployment strategy for all Untied States military personnel from Iraq; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Maryland Congressional Delegation: Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Benjamin L. Cardin, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; and Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger III, John P. Sarbanes, Albert R. Wynn, Steny Hamilton Hoyer, Roscoe G. Bartlett, Elijah E. Cummings, and Christopher Van Hollen, Jr., House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be forwarded by the Department of Legislative Services to the Honorable Martin O’Malley, Governor of Maryland; the
Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., President of the Senate of Maryland; and the Honorable Michael E. Busch, Speaker of the House of Delegates.

Dana Beyer Featured in the Sun

Check out this great article about Dana Beyer's Campaign from the Baltimore Sun:

Beyer's foray into politics places her in a small but growing company of transgender people who are running for office - and getting elected - here and abroad. New Zealand has had a transgender member of Parliament since 1999, and a transgender woman was elected to the Italian Parliament in April. In this country, Michelle Bruce, a transgender woman, joined the City Council of Riverdale, Ga., in 2004, and Jessica Orsini was recently elected to the Board of Aldermen in Centralia, Mo.

Find out how you can support Dana at www.danabeyer.com.

Put a Doctor in the House!

I'm thrilled to share with you that Dana Beyer is a candidate for the State Delegate seat in Maryland 18, my home district. This seat is currently held by marriage equality advocate Rich Madaleno, who has announced his plans to run for the State Senate Seat.

Dana and I first met at the 2005 National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Leadership Awards last year, and in the past year I've learned what an incredible advocate for our community she is. Dana currently serves on the Board of both The National Center for Transgender Equality and Equality Maryland.

Dana writes on her campaign website: "As a physician and surgeon, I am trained to welcome a challenge, to analyze thoroughly and compassionately, to reach a decision, and then to act boldly and effectively. I will bring those skills to Annapolis to work on your behalf."

Find out more at www.danabeyer.com.

This article filed under Maryland and Transgender.

Want to save a marriage? Start with your own!

Another self-appointed defender of the institution of marriage has been busted in a sex scandal. Former Delegate Charles Boutin was an outspoken opponent of marriage equality for gays and lesbians during his time in the Maryland State Legislature. The Washington Post ran the story last week:

A Maryland Public Service Commission member acknowledged yesterday that he used his state computer to engage in sexual conversations with an alleged prostitute but said he never committed a criminal act. Charles R. Boutin issued a statement last night expressing his shame and sorrow for his conduct, but he said in a strikingly candid news release that his actions were part of an effort to deal with his impotency after surgery for bladder cancer.

That's gotta be the most creative excuse for using a government computer for sex that I've ever heard. Maryland Delegate Mary Dulany-James simply stated in the article "I feel sorry for his wife."

One of our out Delegates, Rich Madaleno had the best quote, saying it was ""ironic that someone who professed to protect the sanctity of marriage was violating the sanctity of his own marriage."

Way to go Rich.

Maryland Heroes: Heather Mizzeur

This is part of a series of posts about the Marriage Equality movement in Maryland. To find out more click here.

Heather Mizzeur is a candidate from District 20 for the Maryland House of Delegates. Heather was the Maryland Director of the 2004 Kerry-Edwards Campaign, and has served on the Takoma Park City Council. She lives in Takoma Park with her partner Deborah.

Heather is also a strong advocate for Marriage Equality in Maryland. A recent letter she wrote to the Washington Blade, which was also picked up by the Washington Post, sends a strong message to Democrats:

Before the ink was dry on the Baltimore Circuit Court declaration that Maryland’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, right-wing activists were touting their effort to overturn it.

Surprisingly, they have been cheered on in the press by some of the state’s leading Democrats. At least the fundamentalists oppose same-sex marriage on principle. It seems the Democrats are simply afraid to take a stand on the issue. This reflects a cynical political strategy that dramatically underestimates the people of Maryland.

I am not the only progressive Democrat tired of such calculation and cowardice. These games have exhausted gay and lesbian voters in particular. Politicians who are too squeamish to stand with us when it counts must be put on notice that they will lose our financial and electoral support. We must reward leaders who demonstrate the courage of their convictions.

Maryland Heroes: Lisa & Gita

Continuing the blog post on Maryland Heroes, meet Lisa Polyak and Gita Deane. Here is Lisa's speech from the recent Equality Maryland rally in Annapolis

I am Lisa Polyak, and this is my partner Gita Deane. We are among the 19 plaintiffs who are asking the Courts to determine if the Maryland Declaration of Rights -- our cherished State Constitution -- is sturdy enough to bear the weight of our families.

Maryland Hero: Rich Madaleno

Maryland has become a key state in the movement for marriage equality, and Maryland Democrats are true heroes in this effort.

Rich Madaleno has been a member of House of Delegates since January 8, 2003, representing Maryland's 18th district. I first met Rich on February 13th, 2004. I remember because he spoke at the Don't Amend Freedom to Marry Event that Jen Chapin Harris and I organized in Washington, DC. At the time, Rich made the case why we should be more focused on what's happening in Maryland, and he was right.

Rich, and other Maryland Democrats, have worked hard to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Maryland. Which of course means the marriage equality case currently working it's way through the Maryland courts. is still viable.

Rich recently participated in an online chat sponsored by the Washington Post on this very issue. He gave this compelling quote:

I do not believe it is appropriate or proper to put provisions RESTRICTING rights into the Constitution. Questions related to the right of people to enjoy life, liberty and freedom are not issues to be decided by popularity contests - no matter how strongly people may believe they are right and others are wrong. What part of your life would you like to put up to a vote?

Maryland Court Ruling!

The following Press Release comes from Equality Maryland.

Maryland Court Says State Cannot Bar Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections

BALTIMORE – A Maryland circuit court ruled today that it is a violation of the state constitution to deny same-sex couples the numerous protections provided to married couples. The American Civil Liberties Union and Equality Maryland hail the decision as an historic step toward the ability of same-sex couples to legally marry in the state.

“This is such an exciting moment,” said Lisa Polyak, who with her partner, Gita Deane, is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed by the ACLU. “Our participation in this lawsuit has always been about family protections for our children. Tonight, we will rest a little easier knowing that those protections are within reach.”