The marriage-equality bill in Maryland cleared a major hurdle when it gained final approval from the Senate last Thursday night, paving the way for Maryland to become the sixth state in the nation to sanction same-sex marriage.
The House began consideration of the bill Friday, and the state’s governor has said he would sign it if it reaches his desk.
A vote in the House could come by the end of the week.
Out Sen. Rich Madaleno said in a statement last Thursday that the Senate vote was “a reflection of the values we share as Marylanders and Americans” and “demonstrates our commitment to civil rights and equality for all.”
The Senate vote was 25-21, with one Republican joining the Democratic supporters and 11 Democrats voting against the measure with Republicans.
Equality Maryland executive director Morgan Meneses-Sheets praised Madaleno and other prime sponsors Sens. Rob Garagiola and Jamie Raskin for their leadership, and congratulated the many LGBTs and allies who pressed for the victory.
“We are proud of all the 25 senators who stood up for the fairness today and voted to support SB 116. We also thank the thousands of Marylanders who have not only worked tirelessly, but also opened their hearts to share their stories and their experiences with their senators to explain why marriage matters,” she said.
Prior to the vote, the Senate weighed several amendments.
Senators defeated efforts to add several “conscientious-objection” amendments that would have allowed judges and clerks to refuse to issue licenses to same-sex couples and wedding-related businesses, like caterers and photographers, to decline services for same-sex weddings, based on personal objections. Another rejected amendment would have exempted public-school teachers opposed to marriage equality from teaching about same-sex marriage.
Legislators did approve the expansion of the bill’s religious exemption to stipulate that religious retreats and camps do not need to serve same-sex couples, as well as religiously affiliated organizations like the Knights of Columbus, and also dropped “Religious Freedom” from the title.
While marriage-equality advocates were celebrating last Thursday night, the next day all eyes turned to the House, whose Judiciary Committee heard testimony from about 100 supporters and opponents.
Among those speaking out against marriage equality were the state’s Catholic Conference and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage, while support came from the state’s six openly LGBT members of the House of Delegates and LGBT and ally residents.
To pass the House, the measure will need 71 votes and, while the House is considered the more liberal of the two voting bodies, the bill already lost one cosponsor last week: Rep. Melvin Stukes said that, although he’s cosponsored the bill four years in a row, he didn’t realize it seeks to legalize same-sex marriage but rather thought it would allow civil unions.
The measure now has 58 cosponsors.
If it is passed, opponents will have until June 1 to collect about 19,000 signatures from residents who support the issue being placed on next year’s ballot. If the signatures are successfully submitted, the law will not go into effect until the state’s voters cast their opinions in the November 2012 election.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].