Kensington Endorses Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The Kensington Town Council is urging the Maryland General Assembly to approve a bill that would extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.

In a resolution passed unanimously Monday night, the town joined Takoma Park in supporting legislation that would amends state law to remove references to sex and gender as eligibility requirements for a civil marriage license.

The Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act will come before the state legislature when it convenes in January.

"It's something that a local government wouldn't normally address but it's such an important issue that we feel like we need to take a stand," said Kensington Mayor Peter Fosselman. "We realize that there is a lack of equal rights for same-sex couples. It is an area where a state law should be enacted."

Dan Furmansky, executive director of Equality Maryland, called the council's action "enormously significant."

"More and more Marylanders understand that the time to expand the freedom to marry is now, so loving same-sex couples may inherit one another's social security, make medical decisions for one another, inherit properly without crippling tax penalties, and provide for their children two parents with a legalized relationship," he said.