Plaintiffs in the marriage challenge
gather outside the Maryland Court.

The ACLU filed a lawsuit in Baltimore with the cooperation of Equality Maryland, charging that a state law denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the Maryland Constitution. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of nine same-sex couples and a man whose partner recently passed away and would like to be able to marry a same-sex partner one day. The couples come from all walks of life--a former civil rights worker, a bus driver, a paramedic, a teacher, a dentist and a former police officer. Some of the couples have been together for decades, and some are raising children.

Status: Loss. The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled against our plaintiffs on September 18, 2007.

Legal Documents
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Decision, Maryland Court of Appeals (9/18/2007)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Appellants' Reply Brief (11/22/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National LGBT Organizations Describing the History of Discrimination Against Lesbians, Gay Men and their Families (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the Maryland Chapters of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Academy of Pediatrics Confirming that Lesbians and Gay Men are Capable Parents (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Historians and State and National Civil Rights Organizations Explaining the History and Evolution of Marriage (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of Organizations Representing Constituencies Subject to Rational Basis Review Discussing the Proper Application of the Standard (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund on the Relevance of Interracial Marriage to Same-Sex Marriage (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of 58 Maryland Law Professors Analyzing Maryland Constitutional Law in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association and Other Mental Health Organizations in Support of Equal Treatment for Same-Sex Couples and Their Children (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Maryland Chapter of the AAML Describing Harms to Families of Same-Sex Couples on Account of Exclusion from Marriage (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-Court Brief of State and National Religious Organizations and Leaders in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellees (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Brief of Appellants (9/21/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Decision (1/20/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Plaintiffs' Opposition to State's Motion for Summary Judgment (7/13/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Religion Friend-of-the-Court Brief (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Child Welfare Friend-of-the-Court Brief (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - History Friend-of-the-Court Brief (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - State's Motion for Summary Judgment (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Appendix (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment Exhibits (6/17/2005)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Complaint (7/14/2004)

Press
> ACLU and Equality Maryland Denounce 4 to 3 Decision by Maryland High Court Denying Marriage Protections for Same-Sex Couples (9/18/2007)
> ACLU and Equality Maryland Urge Maryland High Court to Strike Down Law Banning Same-Sex Couples from Marriage (12/4/2006)
> Maryland Psychologists, Social Workers, and Child Welfare Advocates Speak Out in Support of Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (11/30/2006)
> Maryland Court Says State Cannot Bar Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections (1/20/2006)
> ACLU Urges Maryland Court to Strike Down Law Barring Same-Sex Couples from Marriage Protections (8/30/2005)
> Maryland Religious Leaders Join Together to Support Marriage for Same-Sex Couples (8/29/2005)
> ACLU Files Lawsuit Seeking Marriage for Same-Sex Couples in Maryland (7/7/2004)

Additional Resources
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Questions & Answers (9/18/2007)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - Friend-of-the-court briefs filed in the Court of Appeals of Maryland (10/19/2006)
> Deane & Polyak v. Conaway - About the Plaintiffs (7/13/2004)