Date: Sun, 26 Mar 1995 09:32:52 -0500 Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Coalition (SSMAC) 822 Guilford Ave., Box 182 Baltimore, MD 21202 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Clooless@ix.netcom.com Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Coalition Announced Baltimore, MD, March 25 -- The Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Coalition has officially been formed. The Same-Sex Marriage Advocates Coalition (SSMAC) exists as a private non-profit organization dedicated to securing to same-sex couples benefits and rights equal or similar to those that are currently being enjoyed by their heterosexual married counterparts. The SSMAC with support from the Freestate Justice Campaign will be holding it's first of four town meetings to assess the level of support for this issue in the community,to increase the community's awareness of the issue, and organize members that are willing to assist this issue become part of the Gay agenda to go before Annapolis. The first of these meetings will be held at The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Baltimore on April 9, at 2:00 PM. The second meeting is tenativly scheduled to be held at Towson State University on Wednesday, April 12 at 7:00 PM. The other two meetings, which will be held in May, will be in Western Maryland and Montgomery County. For more information contact Clooless@ix.netcom.com or write to SSMAC, 822 Guilford Ave. Box 182, Baltimore, MD 21202. In May of 1993, The Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the State's refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples under the Hawaii marriage law presumptively violates the state constitution's guarantee of equal protection. Baehr v. Lewin, 852 P. 2d 44 (Haw. 1993). Later this year the retrial of Baehr will occur, and The Lambda Legal Defense Network, Inc., along with many other legal and civil rights organizations believe that the Hawaii Supreme Court is likely to follow through on its earlier holding, and will thus uphold a trial court decision ending the "different-sex restriction" on marriage. Evan Wolfson Lambda's co-counsel on the Baehr trial states that "Equal marriage rights for same-sex couples would then be a reality in the Nation's fiftieth state. Because the case involves state, not federal, constitutional questions, the Hawaii Supreme Court has the final word. There can be no appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, nor can the legislature alter the outcome, short of a highly unlikely constitutional amendment." A favorable ruling in Baehr has the potential to change forever the quality of life of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people nationwide; except in Maryland. Maryland has Legislative, Judicial and Political barriers already in place against same-sex unions that will make a favorable ruling in Hawaii meaningless in this State. Only preemptive, proactive, and organized lobbying and planning will allow Maryland citizens to actualize any of the benefits and rights that would come with same-sex marriages. The focus of SSMAC will be two-fold. First and foremost, SSMAC will challenge the legislative, judicial and political obstacles that are acting as barriers for same-sex couples to obtaining the benefits and equal rights that heterosexual married couples are now enjoying. Second, SSMAC will provide information and education to increase awareness of the obstacles same-sex couples face in becoming a recognized and legitimate form of union in the State of Maryland and the ever expansive benefits that same-sex couples could profit from because of their legitimization. This education will be targeted towards the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community as well as the general public, politicians and judges. New organizations of this type need validation and support from individuals and organizations in the community to survive. The functions of SSMAC should not be overlooked as frivolous or naive. In the continued struggle for equal rights of all citizens under the law, any forward movement that can be made in increasing the rights of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community should be fostered and nurtured. I urge any and all persons that are remotely interested in this issue to attend one of the four town meetings. END NEWS RELEASE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Republicans give new meaning to the phrase 'women and infants first.'" --Eleanor Clift