Opponents & Supporters Begin Same-Sex Marriage Referendum Effort
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- The General Assembly passed it, the governor is expected to sign it, but will Marylanders vote on it?
Pat Warren has more on a possible referendum on same-sex marriage in Maryland.
Cardinal Edwin O'Brien denounces same-sex marriage and announces the Archdiocese will engage its 500,000 members in overturning this radical legislation.
Other churches will join the fray.
On the other side, Marylanders for Marriage Equality supporting same-sex marriage will ramp up their media blitz. After years of targeting state lawmakers, same-sex marriage advocates and supporters of traditional marriage take the fight to the people.
And it appears the people are ready to vote, and speak out.
"I think everybody should have an input," one Marylander said.
"At least they feel they've done their part, and we don't feel like everything's in the government's hands," Paul Harrington, Jr. said.
"I think that we should have a say. I think we're entitled to a say."
"I think everybody should have a vote on it."
"It doesn't seem like a lot of times that the officials are doing what we-- what the people-- actually want. Just so the decision's coming from the people and not the bureaucrats."
Warren: "Would you sign a petition to put it on the ballot?"
Marylander: "Yeah."
And there are those who believe voters should not sit in judgment.
"Nobody should judge anybody, period. Because who are you to say what someone else should do? It's not right," Tom Clonts said.
And that's the message same-sex marriage advocates will be sending during the petition drive.
Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected to sign the bill legalizing same-sex marriage into law sometime next week.
