Based on Maryland's age distribution and a changing national attitude on same sex marriage, one could expect–surprise–a close referendum fight in November.
Earlier this week, you may have read that increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage is not the result of a nationwide change of heart, but
A study by the Pew Forum on Religious and Public Life found that the increase of acceptance for same-sex marriage is the result of changing, aging demographics and "generational replacement," defined by Pew as "the arrival of younger, more supportive generations making up a larger share of the population."
Nationally, 48 percent of Americans support same-sex marriage, up from 35 percent in 2001, according to Pew. Among those born after 1981, the so-called millenial generation, 63 percent support same-sex marriage. Fifty-two percent of generation X-ers support gay marriage. Support drops precipitously from there. Only a third of their silent-generation grandparents do, and only 41 percent of the baby boomer parents of most millenials support same-sex marriage.
So, what does this mean for Maryland's upcoming referendum on legalizing same-sex marriage?
Well, consider that the bell curve of the voting age population in Maryland heavily skews towards a younger population. The Census Bureau tabulates ages in five-year ranges that don't exactly match up with the generational cohorts used by Pew's statisticians, but it is close enough for approximation.
With that in mind, note that 41.7 percent of Maryland's population fell between the ages of 20 and 49, roughly corresponding to the millenial and generation-X cohorts, the two cohorts most likely to support same-sex marriage.
Baby boomers and their silent-generation parents, cohorts significantly more conservative on same-sex marriage, make up only 31.9 percent of the state's population.
But, of course, the only important number is how many people in the respective generations actually vote.
In 2008, Maryland's millenials made up more than 20 percent of the state's population but only accounted for 17 percent of its registered voters, according to a fact sheet from the Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). Of those youngest registered voters, only 56 percent voted in the 2008 presidential election, up 6 points from 2004.
Baby boomers and the elderly tend to turn out in much greater numbers. State level data is hard to come by, but according to the Census Bureau's 2008 Voting Hot Report, more than 60 percent of voters aged 50 and up voted in the last presidential election.
Based on those statistics, we're back where we started: A close vote.
But even atheist secularists understand the profound need to seek out one's birth parents.If this does not occur, many children will grow up with permanent emotional and spiritual scars which no amount of therapy can erase,and that can only cause chaos and destruction for future generations. The most absurd doctrine currently circulating among humanistic mankind is that - while God laid down his rules long ago,they have now been preempted and updated - and God Himself must accept these new laws of evolving,liberal man without judgment.Most ominously, remember the judgments reserved for those who truly ignore the Creator's rules for His subjects and creation:Romans 2:6-8 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart,you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath,when his righteous judgment will be revealed.God "will repay each person according to what they have done."To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory,honor and immortality,he will give eternal life.But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil,there will be wrath and anger.”Be saved! Jesus cares,saves!
“New European Studies Show Homosexual Marriage Harms Marriage in General Proponents of gay marriage frequently argue that allowing for it would have no affect whatsoever on the institution of marriage itself. Former Harvard anthropologist Stanley Kurtz, writing in the current issue of the Weekly Standard, reports on various European studies that challenge this argument. Kurtz reports that in those countries where full homosexual marriage rights have been granted, marriage and indeed concrete family structures have been considerably weakened. These studies also show that the traditional function of marriage as the basis for stable family environments and parenthood is now no longer considered necessary. Rather, "same-sex marriage has locked in and reinforced an existing Scandinavian trend toward the separation of marriage and parenthood.instead of encouraging a society-wide return to marriage.gay marriage has driven home the message that marriage itself is outdated, and that virtually any family form, including out-of-wedlock parenthood, is acceptable." Telling the truth to inform the public shouldn't be characterized as "living and preaching a life of prejudice". Read more: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1066349/posts
Enough is enough. By your logic, my daughter and every other adopted child not acquired via open adoption will have "emotional and spiritual scars which no amount of therapy can erase." She was abandoned on the steps of a Chinese government building at 3 days of age and lived in an orphanage for 13 months. The chances of us ever finding her birthparents are pretty much nil. You know what's funny? Even at 10, she's more mature than most adults. There's nothing scarred or messed up about that child. Nothing about her would suggest she'll ever be anything but happy and outrageously successful no matter what she tries. If you asked her about birthparents, she'll tell you God meant for ME to be her mother and figured out a creative way to make that happen. That's what I believe, too. And she's no freak in this respect because I know hundreds of happy adopted adults who care nothing about finding their birthparents. I look forward to November 6. Those who follow Jesus' teachings about social justice are sending your brand of "Christians" a message. You call us apostate, but you've shown us here that you're no better than a Pharisee.
Yes, marriage as the union of a man and a woman is practical. Its stabilizing nature is undeniable for those without blinders. ...please read from the website the portion that is not included. And unless we find a way to discourage unwed childbearing and revive marriage, the chasm between classes will continue to grow. Gay marriage is a distraction. The country depends on traditional marriage.”
They just don't trust what they can't explain I know we're different but deep inside us We're not that different at all Phil Collins
This re-thinking which is under way in the UK is not limited to conservative circles. Norman Dennis, coauthor of this book, writes from a socialist perspective. And the author of the foreword, A.H. Halsey, is also a “lifelong leader of socialist thought”. This book is based on the findings of two “typical large-scale studies”, one of which, the National Child Development Study, involved 17,000 children. These two representative studies clearly point in one direction: a child fares much better, by every indicator, if reared in a home where mother and father, married to each other, are found.” Read more: http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/1995/07/01/a-review-of-families-without-fatherhood-by-norman-dennis-and-george-erdos/
There are more people that struggle with homosexuality than we know. There are those who secretly struggle with it and never speak out about it. I want to tell you, if that's you, that you will never overcome this without talking about it...with a trusted person and with God. And I offer myself as that person to anyone that may need to talk about it, and you have my word that it will never go beyond us.” Read more: http://ipost.christianpost.com/news/saved-from-homosexuality-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-gay-christian-10039/
I personally don't care who loves who and what they do in private. However, as far as being married, I personally define that as a union between a man and a woman. That is MY personal view. I don't believe it's my right to prevent others from doing as they wish and having access to rights, benefits and property. Just because it's something that I don't practice or totally understand, doesn't mean that they should be denied the right to do so. Thirty years ago interracial marriage was considered a terrible thing, frowned upon. I enjoy plenty of friendships with interracial couples from all walks of life and don't think twice about it. I do believe one day, couples of all genders and types will be considered the norm, but now there are strong religious beliefs (such as in my case) that are bred from a lifetime of teaching and are hard to change. Many are trying to be open minded and are working on finding personal solutions to these opinions and being fair about it at the same time without compromising their integrity or beliefs.
Sorry for inadvertently not including the website (see below) from which the excerpt was taken. “The country depends on traditional marriage.” “Despite this, many filled the streets of New York to revel in the unraveling on June 24, just as they did during the parades the day after the legislature’s vote. USA Today made note of “one parade attendee dressed as half bride and half groom.” The symbolism couldn’t be any more poignant or clear: Not a bride, not a groom. Both and neither at the same time. Marriage but not marriage. The elimination of distinctions. The pursuit of “marriage equality” is nothing less than an assault on marriage integrity.” Read more: http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2011/10/mounting-doubts-about-same-sex-ldquomarriagerdquo
“Long story short, this past September, Jesus Christ intervened in my life. Nothing bad happened (there was no rock bottom for me). It's just like one day I was awakened, I wasn't even sure what it was. I had never identified myself as "Christian". … I was so caught up in myself and my life that it never crossed my mind, at all. God, Jesus, Christianity, the Bible were all completely foreign thoughts to me. But one day about 6 months ago I felt something inside of me wake up. I decided to seek God and see what this was. I told God, and my Christian friends, that I didn't know if being gay was right or wrong, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from seeking God anymore. I wasn't going to take anyone's word about the issue (I'm stubborn like that),I was just going to let God show me.And He did. I asked God to let me look at this through His eyes and not my own.Culture has made homosexuality "NATURAL". Because it feels natural.(" There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"- Proverbs 14:12) Well based on that logic,pedophiles would also just be "born that way" and there should be nothing wrong with that. Same thing with adultery.Honestly, it's just a matter of time before our culture decides that pedophilia and adultery are just as "natural" as homosexuality and should not be looked down upon,and that they should be accepted as a functioning part of society.”
“A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome Last reviewed: April 30, 2012. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is the final stage of HIV disease, which causes severe damage to the immune system. Causes, incidence, and risk factors AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among people ages 25 - 44 in the United States, down from number one in 1995. Millions of people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS, including many children under age 15. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers.” Read more: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001620/
If you want to say something on our board, say it it your own words, and do not extensively cut and paste whole sections of text onto the message board.
It is not enough to mean well in life. One must also do well. And the two are frequently not the same thing. There are reasons no moral thinker in history ever advocated same-sex marriage.” To read more, go to: http://jewishworldreview.com/1012/prager103012.php3#.UJBGp3VZXNI
I thought posting an excerpt with a full acknowledgment of its sources cannot be considered a spamming. Even if I don’t understand your reasoning behind this first and last warning, knowing your standard is helpful to me to make further comments if I get time and an interesting article on patch. After reading the comments made by those who support and oppose SSM on this website, I couldn’t figure out a reason why Tworeti’s comments were characterized as ‘misleading, inaccurate or false’. I am not implying that you might have made a mistake. Since we are dealing with subjective stuff on this website, what standard (s) should I apply in order to avoid what you or a person consider(s) as misleading, inaccurate or false statements? I see good people on both sides of this issue. What one considers as accurate the other one considers as inaccurate, misleading or false. Does patch have a fixed standard by which it could evaluate whether or not a comment is misleading, inaccurate or false? Thanks for letting me know your standard regarding spamming. I believe in a freedom of expressions with adherence to a standard set by a website etc.