Del. John Olszewski Jr. will vote in favor of same-sex marriage but anyone with any sense knows this is not how the PEOPLE within his district would vote. Lets bring SSM up to a public vote and put it to the ballot. I wonder what did John receive to buy his vote? Just another out of touch politician.

I guess no one represents thier community once they get voted in . You know how your community feels and you promised when you were elected to honor our feelings .Another broken democratic promise . I'm honestly not against the bill however I didn't just mislead an entire community O'Malleys march from Dundalk continues .

Really this guy is your typical democrat. Wow I often wonder how life would be today if God had made Adam and Steve,I'm guessing pretty lonely. This is just another example of how backwards this state and its leaders are. It speaks loud and clear of his LACK of Christian faith!!! As for Mr Hadfield's comment about the 1950's I'm sure life was much nicer back then, oh wait a minute let me reflect on how great today is under this Democratic leadership we have. Job well done John O!!!! I would expect nothing less.

Despite his reservations, it is so refreshing to hear a politician err on the side of expanding civil and human rights rather than restricting them. Well done, Del. Olszewski.

I think the Delegate did a fine job looking at this very divisive and emotionally wrought issue from a Constitutional standpoint. How is an elected official to tell someone their pursuit of happiness is different from another's? I understand and respect those who object to the bill on religious grounds, but we have the right to worship as we see fit in our country. I support Del. O's decision and applaud how he worked to include protections for religions in the bill.

Thank you Sir. In the 21st century there is not one GOOD reason to deny basic rights to ALL Marylanders. My partner of 15 years and I look forward to being among those seeking a marriage license. We do not desire any religious institution's approval only those protections which any marriage conveys. Marriage is not a religious construct it is a matter of contract law.
We look forward to the day we can celebrate with more than 80 of our friends (btw NOT gay) who will happily cheer us on! We work

As taxpayers, property owners, parents ( our son serves in the US military defending the freedom of all). we look forward to the passage of this important legislation. It's time Maryland!!

I would like to thank Del. Olszewski for his diligence concerning this issue. I think this is a step in the right direction.
I also find it amusing how often commenter's are so quick to label someone.
Tom, if it goes to referendum, which it probably will, and is successful, will you praise Del. Olszewski for voting with the people with the same candor you have exhibited today?
Kevin, if you are not "honestly against the bill," could you clarify how Del. Olszewski did not "honor your feelings" or did not "represent you" correctly?
John P, without more open minded bipartisan thinkers, it doesn't matter whether Democrat or Republican leadership, this area will continue to weaken.

One more vote towards TRUE equality! Baby steps to a real free world, that's all we need. Fingers crossed Maryland pulls through in support of gay marriage!!!!

This should not be a surprise to anyone. Just look at this guy's biography. Lifelong Dundalkian, graduate of Goucher, the most liberal of the liberal arts schools around, high school social studies teacher. The best chance this guy has for the big bucks is to agree to whatever King O'Malley wants.

I got five reasons why gay marriage should be legal:

1. Because they are taxpaying citizens and deserve the same rights as everyone else.
2-5 - So they will finally shut up about it.

Thank you Delegate Olszewski! You are clearly someone who actually understands the Constitution.
For those who claim that he does not represent the views of his district, you could not be more wrong. There are many , many gay families who live in his district and they should be entitled to the respect , rights , responsibilities and benefits of all of our citizens. He is doing exactly the right thing.

Way to go Johnny O :)

I am so sick of hearing the argument that he does not support his constituency with this vote. He certainly represents MY opinion with this vote. Not to mention we will NEVER truly know how many people support this issue or who are directly impacted by it because when there is this overwhelming narrative of hate that instills fear in the supports of a equal rights for the LGBT community or for the LGBT community to be out and proud. Today, he is standing up for those people in our community who have been silenced by fear to be vocal. Today, he is standing up for a large part of his youth constituency who support marriage equality. In fact, this politician is IN TOUCH with the growing sentiment of support for the LGBT community by the generation that will soon be taking over this country and has chosen to stand on the right side of history and moving this country forward.

He supports what he thinks will get him votes, not what he really believes. And those fools who disagree with him, will vote him back in. Stupid people vote for the party, not for those who will do the best job.

Johnny, thank you for representing me! I appreciate that you have found a way to support my civil right to marry while also not infringing on religious rights.

How hard was it to take Marriage out of the Bill and make it a Civil Union,you lost my vote Johnny ,I thought you were better then that.

Sorry John, but I believe that this one more step on the path of destruction for our once great nation. I do not have a problem with civil unions receiving the same rights as married couples, but marriage is the joining of a man and a woman. Nuff said!

jOhnny O.. you've always been shameless. Your an accident waiting to happen. Wait til one of these he/she's that want rights for being mentally disturbed goes into the bathrooms with one of your nieces or nephews and the nightmares begin. You've heard doctors at the hearing tell you that it is a mental disorder but even if not, the man that wants to dress like a woman entering a ladies room is scary. I really don't care how anyone dresses but to make it legit and with rights to use opposite bathrooms is wrong..The Mcdonalds incident was nothing but a setup.

A man dressed in womens clothes enters a Mcdonald bathroom. What went on in that bathroom nobody knows yet the victim was still a man and did not raise a finger to fight off an attack by women.. Then it was conveniently filmed and the transgender suing and attacker gets 5 years. Johnny O.. Wait til the pedophile or rapist enters the bathroom and attacks one of your loved ones. Just put a wig on any man and allow them to use ladies room is wrong. We will all point our fingers at you and the rest of the council people who voted yes.. How 'bout we put signs on bathrooms directing the transgenders to your house to use your bathroom? Great idea huh?Your also opening doors to other issues like our children being taught in school how to be cross genders and whatever.. The first day its passed i guess i'll just put on my wig and heals and shades and walk into the bank and tell them johnny o said it was ok.. This is now my rights.. I earned this right and johnny o said i should not be denied my right. Can't wait til next year when one your constituents want their 2 pit bulls to marry..

Pointing out the obvious but same-sex marriage has nothing to do with transgender individuals or their desire to use public bathrooms. To equate homosexuality and transgender with pedophilia is really showing your lack of correct information. One really should educate oneself before spewing such garbage.

Shadow so if i'm spewing garbage enlighten me? Wouldn't a pedophile be allowed to throw on a wig and use ladies room. Under this bill this is very possible. To think such things don't happen is unknowledgeable..
Isn't this the same bill as the one california has in play and wouldn't this allow transgenders to use opposite bathrooms then what its intended for as always? I'm not talking about same sex marriage which is ok in a civil marriage..I'm talking about cross dressers which is an identity disorder. So point out our discrepencies

Let's stop the conflict about this once and for all. If the marriage contract is a legal and valid concept then it applies to all humans. However there is one way to stop the bickering , ban marriage for everyone, then everyone has the same rights and it also saves a lot of money when those divorces occur, that many religions don't believe in but allow by looking the other way or pretend they don't know. If marriage were not a legal issue then it would not require the courts( the law) to validate a divorce.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." Thomas Jefferson

Thank you Delegate Olszewski for stepping forward and showing true leadership. We are a kind community, a caring community, and a diverse community who looks out for each other. No matter our differences, socio-economic, racial/ethic, or sexual orientation we have each others backs. That's what makes our community strong.

It is indeed heartening to see a true leader step forward - FROM OUR OWN DISTRICT - to protect the fundamental principles of our nation: the pursuit of happiness, separation of church and state, and freedom from the tyranny of the majority. The founding fathers would be proud of you. We - the people of your district - are proud of you.

Delegate Olszewski has clearly taken the first step in distinguishing himself from the rest of the do nothing dolts that are in elected positions in our district. Thank God!

I for one will definitely be supporting Jr. both financially and with my time in the next election. I encourage ALL of you who understand the risk this gentleman is taking to get off your a$$e$ and contribute either time, talent, or treasure to his re-election campaign.

i gather that because john votes for crossgender rights he's a hero even when its considered an mental illness. I have to wonder how many of these transgenders when they were young innocent toddlers did their parents force them to wear clothes not meant for them? I met a few very nice transgender people the other day who was open to discussion. The odd part about it was they they seem to have different ideas and views among each other. I truly believe they need good counselors to give them some kind of peace in their lives without resorting to having bills proposed to justify their own identity disorders. As a prior business owner of many years with public bathrooms as a major concern to all of us, I would find it very indecent for a transgender to occupy the same bathrooms with other people .. many would be offended not only children could be at risk but as an adult could cause many problem issues..You will never convince the average person that its ok for a male to occupy the ladies room or vice versa..

Dr. Chris Haffer.. Your a doctor of what and in what state..

I am glad that Johnny O finally realized that seperation of church and state exists. Now lets just pass this bill and use all of the money this will bring to the state (with the issuing of marriage liscenses not to mention the shopping and receptions, etc) to get rid of the gas tax bill.

Also I am not really sure how marriage allows a man to put on a wig and go to a woman's restroom. And I am not sure why you would call this a gay issue. Im pretty sure if a man entered a woman's room (wig or no wig) to rape someone, he isnt gay. If you are really worried about the gays raping someone, you should want them in the womens room. There is nothing in there they would want!

jordon. i'm no more trolling then you are.. I do know theres a father and son. So what is your point and i do realize we on 2 different subjects. Transgender and gay marriage but since someone swayed into the other i'm just answering my views. This often happens in these forums. One thing leads to another. Now what is the real issue with nonsense?

Krystala.. again I ask you. Do you think its ok for a man to go to ladies room? Would you allow your little girls to go to mens room? Were you at the hearing in towson and hear their reasons for this bill? Did you hear about the transgender who is now on Social security because Dutch ruppersberger advised her to get it? For what reason other then its a mental disorder did this transgender get social security.. Are you aware that 51% of our state are non workers on on some kind of subsidies using our tax $$ and people like Dutch caters to them. Feed them free stuff and they'll keep you in office. Again i went off track but thought it worth mentioning another reason why I am against this bill.

Stop mixing this with Delegate Olszewski's stance on marriage equality. Go yell at Dutch and talk to a councilman/woman. It's not worth mentioning in the wrong place.

Why don’t we all just relax. Lets let them go into any bathroom they feel fit, if they do something wrong, we should punish them very strongly, as we should do to anyone caught violating a child or anyone else.

Everyone is always getting all crazy when they hear stuff like this, but don’t forget there are men who like other men in the men’s room with you, and vice versa with women. If they do not do anything wrong, who cares?

Thank you Johnny O! You've got my vote next election.

Krystala.. can't answer question? Scott I have to disagree. its not healthy for anyone by allowing a man in ladies room.. Its an accident waiting to happen . Not the risk or danger I'd wish on anyone and potential lawsuits against the business and baltimore county especially councilpeople who voted yeah on it.. Its not a Yeah bill..

So as a male if I walk into a female bathroom that company will get sued?

Sweet, instead of trying to get a refund for bad service I know exactly what I will do.

Scott. so you don't think its odd that a man walks into ladies room? What if your kids or wife in there. Would you worry a bit? I surely would hope so..

SSM is DOA. Delay mean the SSM bill is doomed because they do not have the sufficient votes for passage. When you have a 98-vote majority and still not be able to pass a bill, you delay. SM supporters did not give a second thought to the fact of the difficulties in getting enough votes. Del. Dumais(D-Mont)said "These are very complicated issues, and these amendments are very complex.” Complex & delay mean "see ya". 15 amendments before Thursday evening’s session began means "watered down".
We have a divided House and a divided state and in Maryland this never results in a good outcome. I could care less with whom someone wants to spend their life with what I oppose is calling it a marriage. Simply replace the word "marriage" with the term "civil union" that protects and gives the same benefits of a married couple and I would say "Passed". As long as in the end if everyone's treated the same in the eyes of the law this should suffice and satisfy the Gay Community, if not then there alternative agenda behind this.

Scott. can you tell if they transgender or not? Your blowing it all out of proportion. I think the safety of everyone is more important. And as I many year democrat I think you got some republicans wrong. You can't throw all into the basket. There are a few good ones left in both parties but I really think the pelosi bunch is totally mixed up..

You probably can't tell if they are transgender. Doesn't that strengthen my point? How could I feel bad about my daughter and wife if I had no idea that they were in the bathroom with a transgender person?

I know there are good and bad people in both parties, I just hate how the two parties pander to their political bases for votes.

Faith ?? has he read the BIBLE???Same Sex is an abomination in the eyes of GOD.

And God will judge them. Judge not, lest ye be judged yourself. Right?

Okay it's passed and will now go to referendum .I think Johnny O should have cosponsored the amendment that it doesn't go in to effect until after the referendum .But honestly I believe that it should go in effect the Day after the election if passed. If passed it is the will of the people that Johnny represents .The fact is he didn't have to sell out his integrity to appease O'Malley .Trust me when O'Malley gets in the federal arena he will be the next Blagovich and all these lemmings will see how they wasted their time . All of you who say everyone against Johnny switching his vote truly missed the point he stood up against this issue and was vocal saying they should be civil unions in person to people who thought he was different. Now watch we'll get a gas tax but it will only be about 5 cents a gallon because that won't be so cruel on consumers .It is what O'Malley wants all along he just has his Hollywood script writers prepare the statements that come out of these delegates mouths . Johnny I thought you could think on your own ,if you could you would have done this honestly with the issue to be decided by the people as it is going to be now and it should go into effect immediately O'Malley has jut used ALL involved for national standing .he should get three or four appearances on Al Sharpton show out of this .

Good work! Thank You!

You people can't tell the difference from doing the right thing to pandering for votes from all groups. If it was a veterinarian group they'd vote yes.. same thing.
Nothing equal about gays..