Last week's vote on legislation rescinding marriage as a defense to sex crimes was postponed until Valentine's Day.
At last week's voting session, some senators argued that the state needs to promote physical relationships between spouses, and therefore marriage should be a defense to some sexual assaults.
Preventing sexual assault would not intrude into marriages.
Sexual assault is not a part of healthy physical relationships.
Rescinding marriage as a defense to sex crimes would not change the sex crimes law -- touching that is a "common expression of familial or friendly affection" is not a crime now, and would not become one under SB230. Senators should resist all amendments and simply eliminate marriage as an automatic defense to sex crimes.
Contact the members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and ask them to resist all amendments and vote favorably on SB230, the Love is No Defense Act, to give justice to survivors of marital rape and sex offenses.
All members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee are listed below along with their contact information.
MARYLAND SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE:
Leadership:
William C. Smith Jr., Chair (D-20)
Phone: (410) 841-3634 | (301) 858-3634
E-mail: [email protected]
Jeff Waldstreicher, Vice Chair (D-18)
Phone: (410) 841-3137 | (301) 858-3137
E-mail: [email protected]
Baltimore City:
Jill P. Carter (D-41)
Phone: (410) 841-3697 | (301) 858-3697
E-mail: [email protected]
Baltimore County:
Chris West (D-42)
Phone: (410) 841-3648 | (301) 858-3648
E-mail: [email protected]
Shelly Hettleman (D-11)
Phone: (410) 841-3131 | (301) 858-3131
E-mail: [email protected]
Baltimore City and Baltimore County:
Charles E. Sydnor, III (D-44)
Phone: (410) 841-3612 | (301) 858-3612
E-mail: [email protected]
Carroll County:
Justin Ready (D-5)
Phone: (410) 841-3683 | (301) 858-3683
E-mail: [email protected]
Frederick County:
Ronald N. Young (D-3)
Phone: (410) 841-3575 | (301) 858-3575
E-mail: [email protected]
Frederick and Carroll Counties:
Michael J. Hough (D-4)
Phone: (410) 841-3704 | (301) 858-3704
E-mail: [email protected]
Harford County:
Robert Cassilly (D-34)
Phone: (410) 841-3158 | (301) 858-3158
E-mail: [email protected]
Montgomery County:
Susan C. Lee (D-16)
Phone: (410) 841-3124 | (301) 858-3124
E-mail: [email protected]
