Hopkins students react to gay marriage legislation
Members of the Homewood community respond to a ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals banning same-sex marriage
Hopkins student organizations reacted to the Sept. 18 Maryland Court of Appeals ruling to uphold a 34-year-old state law that prohibits same-sex marriage, but are still waiting for further direction for action.
The Circuit Court of Baltimore City first heard Conaway v. Deane and ruled that Maryland's Family Law Article, which says "only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid in this state," violated the Equal Rights Amendment to the Maryland Constitution. The Court of Appeals reversed the decision, but the Maryland House of Delegates is proposing to take action.
Patrick Armstrong, a member of the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSAGA), said that he expected such a ruling from the Court of Appeals.
"Sadly, I wasn't surprised at all, because I know how government policies can give into prejudices and what's right is not always done. Homosexual relationships deserve equal rights and if they have partial rights then they seem inferior," he said. "Giving partial rights to homosexuals is equally as insulting as saying they shouldn't exist at all."
President of DSAGA Keshav Khanijow expressed his consciousness that after the court decision, he felt like homosexuals were treated like second class citizens.
"Sexual orientation is a civil rights issue. You should have the right to marry whoever you want. I never really encountered discrimination, but [the ruling] was the first time I had to deal with critical discrimination. I realized I'm not necessarily valued; the court does not necessarily value my rights," he said.
Khanijow said that he has been trying to be more active in the community after his realization. After hearing about the Maryland Court of Appeals' decision that day, he tried to gather as many DSAGA members as he could for a rally that evening.
"We try not to be political or endorse candidates, but when it comes to basic rights for the community, we try to get more involved."
DSAGA members have been helping to get out the message that civil union is a civil right, and Khanijow said that the main thing that he and DSAGA can do now is go to Annapolis and talk to the state representatives on Lobby Day in February.
The Circuit Court of Baltimore City first heard Conaway v. Deane and ruled that Maryland's Family Law Article, which says "only a marriage between a man and a woman is valid in this state," violated the Equal Rights Amendment to the Maryland Constitution. The Court of Appeals reversed the decision, but the Maryland House of Delegates is proposing to take action.
Patrick Armstrong, a member of the Diverse Sexuality and Gender Alliance (DSAGA), said that he expected such a ruling from the Court of Appeals.
"Sadly, I wasn't surprised at all, because I know how government policies can give into prejudices and what's right is not always done. Homosexual relationships deserve equal rights and if they have partial rights then they seem inferior," he said. "Giving partial rights to homosexuals is equally as insulting as saying they shouldn't exist at all."
President of DSAGA Keshav Khanijow expressed his consciousness that after the court decision, he felt like homosexuals were treated like second class citizens.
"Sexual orientation is a civil rights issue. You should have the right to marry whoever you want. I never really encountered discrimination, but [the ruling] was the first time I had to deal with critical discrimination. I realized I'm not necessarily valued; the court does not necessarily value my rights," he said.
Khanijow said that he has been trying to be more active in the community after his realization. After hearing about the Maryland Court of Appeals' decision that day, he tried to gather as many DSAGA members as he could for a rally that evening.
"We try not to be political or endorse candidates, but when it comes to basic rights for the community, we try to get more involved."
DSAGA members have been helping to get out the message that civil union is a civil right, and Khanijow said that the main thing that he and DSAGA can do now is go to Annapolis and talk to the state representatives on Lobby Day in February.
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