This was kind of a "no brainer".

I'm not at all against providing equality to all, but I wonder why the county felt like this would be required and why the arbitrator did as well. Just because another state grants a right doesn't mean that Maryland has to recognize it, does it? Maybe I'm wrong -- but take this example: if another state granted licenses to carry concealed machine guns, could Maryland residents go to that state, obtain a license, and then return to MD only to insist that this state (which doesn't permit concealed machine guns) has an obligation to recognize those licenses and allow concealed machine guns in this state? Again, not attacking the particular issue (equal rights) but really wondering how & why the county feels that it's legally obligated.

Who would ever be against people making a commitment for a stable family life?
It is a win-win for the society.

never thought i would say good decision to this county exec.but, good job. now start making better decisions on other issues.

The county should give health care to children instead of homosexuals. The goverment shouldn't condone the choice to practice the homosexual lifestyle. Instead, it should work to protect children from sexual deviants.

You should be able to get health insurence if you want it but the goverment should not give it free to anyone and what in tje world happen to you to be so hatefull

It's for the children.

I believe that a male employee's health care benefits were originally extended to cover his wife for a solid reason - the wife bears his children, helps him do well at work by cooking his food, cleaning his home and clothes, helping him make good decisions, plus she gives love and affection to him while receiving the same from him.

I seem to recall that a few decades ago a husband was not yet allowed to be included on his working wife's employee health care benefits. But the couple's children are covered by their mom's benefits. Then, after long, intense legal battles, husbands became allowed to be included in their wives' earned health care benefits.

At the heart of shared spousal health care benefits is having the children of heterosexual married couples being covered by one of their parent's earned health care benefits. Shared employee health care benefits for families were put in place so that heterosexual married couples are more able to raise healthy children.

People do not make a "choice to practice the homosexual lifestyle." Homosexuals are who they were born as. Our human race is evolving into the future; homosexuality is a natural, evolutionary, factor, but I don't know exactly why.

I believe marriage is for heterosexual couples.

Two homosexuals who love and care for each other should be allowed to legally bond in a civil ceremony. But not then qualifying for their same-sex partner's employee health care benefits.

Good job the the Co. Exe. to promote and encourage the spread of HIV.

That's hysterical. Wow. Yes, offering partner benefits is spreading HIV.

Who's going to pay for it. The insurance companies exposure will go up so they will raise our rates. How about county pensions. That will cost our government more money so our taxes will go up.

People do not "choose" to practice the homosexual lifestyle any more than one chooses to walk around with brown eyes. Offering health benefits to same sex partners does NOT spread HIV... that's one of the most ridiculous assertions I've heard in years. And who pays for it? The employee does, just like any other company sponsored health plan. Rates are kept low by the employer's fractional contribution and the size of the risk pool. Adding same sex partners does NOT increase the insurance company's risk any more than adding heterosexual spouses would. Think about what this means... these are not cruising predators looking for converts. These are families, people in committed relationships who want nothing more than the rights attributed to the rest of the population. To deny them is more than callous, its discrimination plain and simple. I applaud Baltimore County for taking this important step in the name of compassion and basic human dignity, and I welcome its leadership to the 21st century. Can't say it enough... its about time.

Marty warren, may I suggest that you being insured is raising my rate? If all of you people who worry about rates going up because of same-sex marriage will be removed from insurance plans, the rate will go way down, and I, a heterosexual mother of a lesbian daughter, her partner and her new born, will pay less. Sounds good to me!

Glad to hear Howard County has chosen to do this.
It makes the world a little better place and sends a positive message to young people.
The responses have aslo been interesting.
As a gay man, I met my spouse of 24 years, at the gay Catholic group, Dignity.
We are still Catholic today.
We are also members of PFLAG.
We do not have children nor do we have AIDS.
We each have our own heath insurance policy, which is not cheap!

The Constitution requires that every state honors contracts from every other state. It is called 'Full faith and credit'. It is also why DOMA cannot pass constitutional muster.

The County has now gone down that slippery slope and set a precedent for which it will one day regret! What's next? Hmmmmmmm! I believe that the County should allow others to cover their ailing parents on their health care plans!

And then there are "Common Law Marriages!" Maryland doesn't recognize them either but will the County do so? Other states do recognize these types of marriages so will that open up a can of worms for the county if some of their employees happen to be in that situation? Are any of the County Police Officers bonded via a "common law marriage?"

Again, where does it end? Marriage was suppose to be about the union of a man and a woman that has the natual ability to pro-create life in the name of the family.
Unfortunately, the same-sex arrangement cannot perform that function naturally with two of the same sexes. I truly believe that this is NOT what our founding fathers of this country had in mind. Some things should not be cheapened nor mucked with that diminishes the intrinsic significance of the joining of a husband and wife! This is why our country is going to hell in a hand basket quick!

I'm not at all opposed to same-sex unions as they are adults and if they chose to remain lifelong partners, so be it. And if these individuals want to offer coverage to their partners, its their income and policy and they should be allowed to do so. But they'll never be the same as a traditional marriage that is universally recognized.

I'm not a lawyer, but i do not think a "common law marriage" is a contract in the way a signed agreement is.

goverment should be out of the marriage biz

this just goes to show you how much our country is going down hill its not about religious beliefs its about bible facts our govt is a freakin joke we cant even get health insurance on us let alone gay marriages the bible specifically states that a marriage is supposed to be between man and woman to pro-create life anything else INCLUDING GAY MARRIAGES IS A SIN it also has a few more scriptures about it it is just plain wrong and there the ones who'll have to answer to god for it

it also has 1000 passes that says we should love one another and there's a really big one that says something about not bearing false witness. with that in mind please point out your reference to where it says 'gay marriage is a sin" and then after you sho us that one show us where it specifically says "marriage is only between one man and one woman." I'm hold you to this because you know these things are not mentioned in the Bible as if that really means anything in a SECULAR civil issue... Nobody is telling you how to practice your religion. You seem to forget that there are other people here who do not adhear to your system of beliefs. Our government is based on Our Constitution not your Bible or someones else's Religious book.

The Bible has been blamed for a lot of "rules" bandied about by some people. Some people shop through it to serve any purpose they desire. Keep your Bible out of my life, and out of the government.