Same sex marriage bill passed in MD Senate.
House version so now just needs signed by O"Malley!!!!
More details to follow here.
http://www.wbaltv.com/index.html
Duct Tape
(196 posts)cal04
(41,505 posts)The Maryland Senate passed a gay marriage bill Thursday by a 25-22 vote, sending it to Gov. Martin OMalley, 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
(4,175 posts)Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)Nancy Waterman
(6,407 posts)especially while we witness what goes on across the river in McDonnelland!
The contrast is quite striking.
friedgreentomatoes
(321 posts)Krispy Creme land slightly up north is scary too!
Fortran
(83 posts)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
(10,533 posts)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
(2,657 posts)LetTimmySmoke
(1,202 posts)trickyguy
(769 posts)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
(94 posts)Now if my state of California can just get back in line!