Well said Sir. I applaud you for your courage in doing what is right and not simply what is politically expedient.

thank you for posting this! Way to go Maryland!!! :)

This is a disgrace in the highest order! Your vote was politically expedient and I am sure the leadership and the Governor will reward you immensely for your vote. Once the 2010 returns came in, your party was salivating at the prospect of getting this legislation enacted and the heck with civil unions I am disappointed but not surprised. Thanks to you and others we are left with the referendum process that will probably result in an activist court overturning the will of Marylanders. There is a right way (civil union)and a wrong way (gay MARRIAGE) to get this "civil rights" issue addressed, you Sir, choose the latter.

Nothing but back door/room politics. You did your best to apease O'Malley, who cares nothing more other than padding his resume for his run for the Corrupt House in 2016. Did he promoise you a Cabinent Position Olzewski, for your vote???

Still looking for an update from Stone, Minnick, or Wier... I applaud not only the rationale for the vote, but the willingness to man up and say, "Here's why I did what I did." Though I disagree with "gay marriage" personally, I see it differently as a legal issue. That said, I very much appreciate the vote and more so, the communication with the constituency.

As a conservative, I'm glad they voted to stop regulating people's personal lives.

Funny that the here's why I did it excuse is used by all the democrats across the nation on this issue. again I'm not against this bill I'm against your betrayal .Why did you make it a campaign issue then turn around and change.Because you and all the other democratic future of Maryland were told to .You were given a script saw the same rehearsed testimony.Did you even bother to check if these people were telling the truth. Nothing has changed since Staten and Birmingham in Dundalk except the quality of life has hit the bottom. Because of sell outs like you Johnny .

Rights given by the states? Maybe that is why the state has so many problems!
"...that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain
unalienable Rights,..." If the state could give rights, then the state can take them away. We, all of us, are born with our rights. Our rights are not granted to us by any state.

Your explanation comes as no surprise to me because I have always known that there is "no compelling reason to deny other individuals access to the same rights and responsibilities that are given to me and my wife by the state."

What puzzles me is why so many others, so very many, just don't understand the meaning of the legal term, equal protection of the law.

I am disappointed, not in the bill, but that you lied to the people who put you in office. That's more of an issue than the 5% of the population who will benefit from this bill.

Point well taken Portsmouth!

one less democrat i'll vote for..

Thanks for legalizing Sodomy.

Well if you were such Christian sir, you would know what your Bible says about homosexuals AND marriage! Then you would not have seen no good reason to first against it! The separation of church and state is why immorality is high on the rise! I don't care for anyone's remarks again my comments as one day, everyone's eye shall be opened to the truth!

*that was vote against it

It has been my understanding that you were elected to represent the views of your constituents, not force your opinions on them. You have betrayed te trust of the people you were suppose to represent. You appear to be just another political whore selling your vote for your own political ambitions.

Thank you for your courage. Our state and nation need to be big enough to accept the humanity and rights of all to love and marry. Now let's support our legislators by approving this bill so they can move forward and help to address jobs and building a fairer economy!

Well I am a Christian and my Bible states that marriage is between one man and one woman. Read the scripture and it is very plain in stating this.

Leviticus 18:22 states: you shall not lie with a man as with a woman
In Genesis chapter 2: the Bible states that a man shall leave his father and mother and they will be united, and they will become one.
Hebrews 13:4 states: Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexual immoral.
Other scriptures include: Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:9, Ephesians 5:22-33, Proverbs 18:22, I Timothy 5:14
JUST SAYING!!! God said it, We believe it
Jim and Sharon Cosner

People there is NO CONSITUTIONAL RIGHT of marriage! It is a privilege bestowed upon a man and woman by the states and made lawfully legitimate for other reasons. Secondly, the Supreme Court needs to address the proper definition of "marriage" that comports with our country's original judeo-christian beliefs that supports a proper family unit and the procreation of life. Two men and/or two women cannot procreate another life without the use of outside intervention due to obvious biological and anatomical reasons. Though I'm a Roman Catholic and the gay lifestyle is not acceptable to our religious beliefs, I do accept the right of other people to be with whom they wish but I draw the line at gay marriage. I would be amenable to "civil unions" for the purposes of other reasons like health insurance, etc.. Marriage as an institution should be reserved for and restricted to a man and a woman. Our liberal society has slowly eroded our moral fabric of this country to shameless depths that now people are demanding we accept polygamy! America, what's next? Incest! Its time that we demand of our elected politicians that they convey the will of the majority and not minority! Again, marriage is not a constitutionally protected right.....

I myself am more concerned that the majority was grossly misrepresented by the support and passing of this bill. I believe that when this bill goes to referendum, as it most likely will, then the public's true feelings will be made loud and clear.

Do you know the kind fo bribing our own governor does? Actually he threatens the elected officials under him with his power. They lose out. More and more speaking out against him. Why do you think omalley made a complete turn around on his gay marriage stance? all about the votes.. He's moving on to higher ground.. anybody remember omalley saying "lies win elections"?

Butch, please don't refer to being gay as a "lifestyle". It is not a choice. Why would I choose it if I had to deal with the long list of problems like bullying, religious unacceptance, possible job firing, etc etc? And I have news for you - there are hundreds if not thousands of gay couples in this state and more across the country who have been living their lives as married couples already and MANY with children. We are american families just like yours dealing with the same day-to-day challenges as your family. I have been with my partner for 13 years. More than many legal marriages last. We own a home together. We plan on adopting children, which is doable in Maryland. (I guess under your rule barren or elderly straight couples or ones that don't want to have children shouldn't get married either) All we ask is that we are treated under the LAW the same way as everyone else. The churches don't have to be involved at all - the law takes that into account. And there is such a thing as minority rights in this country. We take up 10% of the population - I think thats a sizable minority. And BRAD - a majority should NEVER have the rights to decide the fate of a minority. That one of the reasons we have representatives to hear all sides and make educated decisions. Referendums are good for some laws, but this one deals with a minority's rights, which should not be decided by a majority -many of whom are biased because of religion or ignorance to the actual language of the law.

correction - language of the "bill". apologies.

And to Del. John Olszewski - thank you. You DO represent my needs, and many others.

Tell us the REAL reason Delegate............isn't Senator Stone thinking of retiring? What a feather in your cap if you could be "appointed" to that position! Politics as usual in Maryland............

I am a straight, white man that supports marriage equality. There are lots of other people in this town that do, too.

As a veteran, I think about the young men and women who are fighting and dying for our country. Yet, if opponents of marriage equality had their way, these brave soldiers would not have the same protections of the law that they are defending for straight people! I am glad that Del. Olszewski had the courage to vote to protect our veterans and others in the community. Just seeing that Marine come home from a War Zone and kiss his partner on the mouth was enough for me. One cannot help who they Love. I for one do not feel that anyone has the right to deny me the right to love my Darling Patty, nor should anyone deny a person that very same right, and that right means marriage to anyone who feels the need.

In addition to being the right thing to do, I am glad that the General Assembly passed the law because it is now able to focus on other issues that are important to our community and the state. This issue would continue to be a distraction if it were not passed – it would be something the legislature would keep taking up, and would only detract from other issues. Passing the bill and having it on referendum is the only and best way to finally get beyond this.

Because of the referendum, the people are going to decide! Who can be against that?

Please don't kid yourself by saying your a christian, but feels the need to vote for same sex marriages.. Clearly you must be reading a different bible!! You voted the way you wanted to,, not the way the voters who put you there wanted. Your initial appointment to office was one of those back room deals, so I don't believe that you really have any integrity. You represent US!!! Don't think you can go to Annapolis and vote what you and your wife believe in. I don't think I could ever attend your church..Can't imagine that they follow God and his teachings. I will work hard to make sure you are not re-elected...We will defeat this. You really disappoint me and the voters who put you there. In fact, DUNDALK we need to clean house. Look at how poorly Dundalk is progressing?? These clowns have been in there for years and we haven't seen any improvements. Dundalk deserves better than this. We are a great community and need GREAT Representation.

Same sex marriage
Next Humans marrried to animals.
Next Humans having sex with babies.
Why? because every person has the right to be happy. But the baby didn't cry and the animal never cried. Sick.

So I issue a challenge to all of Dundalk's great citizens. Say NO to a "Lack of progress in our area." Say NO to our "declining businesses." Say NO to "Our declining Neighborhoods." VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE ON ELECTION DAY!!!!! Clean House. Vote your needs,wants,desires for DUNDALK and our STATE...NOT PARTY LINES..

Adrian.. you quote the bible and you call people idiots and morons all in same breath.
a marriage consist of man and woman only.. what the others do in the bedroom is their own business yet all they want to do is tell the world they love something other then their opposite and smith is right.. what next animals? nothing sick about it.. just truth.