New Gay Marriage Thing Takes Effect In Maryland

Hint: It's not marriage!

By JIM NEWELL

Updated 7:15 AM EST, Wed, Jul 1, 2009

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As one of the most Democratic-voting states in the Union, Maryland should, by now, have at least nine different ways for gay people to get married and adopt all sorts of children, including those -- yours! -- that haven't even been put up for adoption.

And yet! Gay people still cannot get married or even civil-unioned in this treacherous bastion of targeted government spending and Welfare. But with a new law taking effect today -- July 1 marks Maryland's most important and historic holiday, "New Fiscal Year-mas" -- those gay couples will at least become entitled to the Hors D'Oeuvres of Equality.

That's right: a modest change in the tax code -- the inheritance tax code. Yes we can! Have that tax break!

ANNAPOLIS -- Legalizing gay marriage remains an elusive goal for activists in Maryland, but gay couples are gradually achieving some of the same rights as married heterosexual couples.

The latest example, which takes effect Wednesday with a variety of other new laws, exempts domestic partners who co-own homes from the state inheritance tax.

Before Fiscal Year 2010, the state imposed no inheritance tax on "property passing to spouses, children, parents, grandparents, stepchildren, stepparents and siblings," but a 10 percent tax on property passed to homosexuals and, hmm, televangelists or whoever else people give their money to. Televangelists are still in hot water, however. Ten percent!

Jim Newell writes for Wonkette and IvyGate.