Same sex marriage bill passed in MD Senate.

[CC]

House version so now just needs signed by O"Malley!!!!

More details to follow here.
http://www.wbaltv.com/index.html

[Duct Tape]

1. Yes! Great News.

[cal04]

2. Maryland Senate approves gay marriage bill

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-maryland-senate-approves-gay-marriage-bill-20120223,0,337729.story

The Maryland Senate passed a gay marriage bill Thursday by a 25-22 vote, sending it to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who sponsored the bill and is likely to sign it soon. Maryland would become the eighth state to allow same sex couples to marry, though opponents have vowed to force a public vote on the issue in November.

“I know today we are going to make history because we are going to take another important step towards embracing every family in the state of Maryland,” Sen. Richard Madaleno, who is openly gay, said on the floor before the vote.

Now that the bill has passed the General Assembly, its opponents are free to start gathering the 55,736 signatures – 3% of the number of votes cast at the last gubernatorial election - that they need to trigger a referendum. Church groups and conservatives have said they have plans in place to start the petition drive.

A third of the signatures need to be submitted to the State Board of Elections by May 31, with the rest by June 30.

[badhair77]

3. finally some good news!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

4. And Governor O'Malley will sign! I couldn't be happier to be a Marylander!!!

[Nancy Waterman]

5. Me too!

especially while we witness what goes on across the river in McDonnelland!
The contrast is quite striking.

[friedgreentomatoes]

8. Not just across the river!

Krispy Creme land slightly up north is scary too!

[Fortran]

6. One more impediment to the bigot's agenda to deny equal rights.

Surely it's gotten over the tipping point, hasn't it? I know the rw nuts in Washington State want to reverse the progress there but can the momentum realistically be stopped now?...I don't think so.

[Maven]

7. That's great. Let's hope it survives a referendum.

Anyone know what the numbers are like in MD?

Edit: From wikipedia -

A January 2012 Washington Post poll found that 50% of Maryland residents were in favor of the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 44% were opposed.[48]

50 to 44...maybe we can actually win this one for good!

[Justice wanted]

9. WOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!

[LetTimmySmoke]

10. As a man with gay family, I say K&R

[trickyguy]

11. Hey, we're on a roll.

Another state that finally realizes that gays and lesbians are
real people with real needs. And that we can and do love one another
and that should include the right to marry. Congrats MD.

[fantomas]

12. Cheers to our MD friends!

Now if my state of California can just get back in line!

[yellowcanine]

13. Unfortunately there will likely be a referendum on this. And it will not be easy to win it.