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Saturday, May 19, 2012

Race to the Bottom - Divorce Equality

    Do we Marylanders live in a progressive state, or what?  Our state Court of Appeals has just ruled that, even though same-sex marriage will not be legal in Maryland until January 2013 (unless a ballot initiative is successful at blocking it), same-sex couples may divorce in our state now.  The AP reports:
Maryland's highest court ruled Friday that same-sex couples can divorce in the state even though Maryland does not yet permit same-sex marriages.  The Court of Appeals ruled 7-0 that couples who have a valid marriage from another state can divorce in Maryland.  The case involved two women who were married in California and denied a divorce in 2010 by a Maryland judge.   "A valid out-of-state same-sex marriage should be treated by Maryland courts as worthy of divorce, according to the applicable statues, reported cases, and court rules of this state," the court concluded in a 21-page ruling.
You've got to love the phrasing: "worthy of divorce."  It's barely been a week since the President made his announcement voicing his support for same-sex marriage, or "marriage equality" as the advocates are calling it.  Robin Roberts of ABC News should stay by the phone in case the President wants to make a similar endorsement of the equally cherished right of "divorce equality."  And Maryland is blazing the trail.

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