In
a historic move, the Maryland House of Delegates today approved
marriage equality legislation introduced by Governor Martin O’Malley (D)
that would allow committed gay and lesbian couples to marry. The next
stop for the legislation is a vote in the State Senate. Last year, the
same-sex marriage bill died on the House floor; a vote was not taken.
“We could not be more grateful to the
Delegates who today voted to make all Maryland families stronger,” said
Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign. “Today, we took a
giant step toward marriage equality becoming law – and we are in this
position due to the unwavering leadership and resolve of Governor
O’Malley, Speaker Busch and our legislative allies.”
The Civil Marriage Protection Act
allows committed gay and lesbian couples to obtain a marriage license
while providing religious exemptions for churches and other religious
institutions. Clergy, for example, do not have to perform any marriage
they do not agree with. The bill protects religious liberty.
The Human Rights Campaign has committed extensive resources to the Maryland effort, including helping to create Marylanders for Marriage Equality,
the broad-based coalition made up of labor, faith, civil liberties, and
LGBT organizations. HRC provided the campaign’s senior staff and
spearheaded the field, communications, and faith components of the
coalition effort.
Today’s legislative win for marriage
equality comes at a historic moment: in the past two weeks, the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled California’s discriminatory Proposition 8
to be unconstitutional; Governor Christine Gregoire signed marriage
equality into law in Washington State; and a marriage bill passed the
New Jersey legislature yesterday. Six states and the District of
Columbia recognize marriage equality, with Washington State’s law set to
go into effect in three months.