Maryland Delegate Peter F. Murphy
announced Friday during a debate on a gay marriage bill that he's
gay.
In an interview with gay weekly the
Washington Blade published Wednesday, Murphy, a divorced
father of two and grandfather, denied he was closeted.
“I have never denied [being gay],”
Murphy told the paper, “I just presumed people knew.”
Murphy, however, was not one of the six
openly gay delegates signing onto a letter urging the House to
approve a gay marriage bill.
The letter, released over the weekend,
was signed by Democratic Delegates Luke Clippinger, Bonnie Cullison,
Anne Kaiser, Maggie McIntosh, Heather R. Mizeur and Mary Washington.
News of Murphy's self-outing apparently
had not reached several of his colleagues in the House. After a
House member referred to the chamber's six openly gay members, Murphy
stood up to say: “In all due respect I would just like to correct
something to my good friend the sponsor of the bill, there are seven
in this House.” Murphy's announcement was greeted with loud
applause.
The Maryland House began debate on the
gay marriage bill in the morning and is expected to take a final vote
on the measure later today.