Antigay Maryland official fired

Conscience, Winter, 2006

MARYLAND GOVERNOR ROBERT Ehrlich in June fired a Catholic transit official who had said on television that homosexuality was "sexual deviancy." Architect Robert Smith made the antigay remarks as a panelist on a local political program. A week later, at a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority board meeting, District of Columbia councilman Jim Graham said Smith should retract the comments or resign from the board. Smith refused, telling reporters, "I'm a Roman Catholic." Ehrlich dismissed him the same day from the suburban commission he represented on the metropolitan board.

"Robert Smith's comments ... are in direct conflict to my administration's commitment to inclusiveness, tolerance and opportunity," Ehrlich said.