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ACLU Files for Right of Gays to Marry in Baltimore NewsMax WiresBALTIMORE - The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday sued the city of Baltimore and four Maryland counties for the right of same-sex couples to marry. The lawsuit was filed in Baltimore Circuit Court on behalf of nine couples and a man whose partner recently died. The couples had sought marriage licenses and were denied, said Ken Choe of the ACLU's Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, based in New York. Story Continues Below Maryland law specifically defines marriage as between a man and a woman. In February, Attorney General Joseph Curran sent a memo to state legislators and the 24 clerks of the court reminding them that clerks are not authorized to issue licenses to gay couples. Curran issued a statement Wednesday saying the law "unambiguously defines marriage in a way that excludes same-sex couples." But, he said, "it seems appropriate that the issue, which has been framed as a matter of civil rights, be decided by the courts." "Personally, I have no problem at all issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples if I could," Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk Frank Conaway said. Clerks from three counties named in the lawsuit did not comment; a fourth clerk said he had not received any applications from gay couples. The ACLU has pending legal challenges in Massachusetts, Oregon, New York, Washington state, California and Nebraska. Other groups have filed lawsuits in New Jersey and Florida to legalize gay marriage.
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