On Friday, the Maryland House of Delegates voted in favor of House Bill 438, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, which allows committed gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state. The measure, which is a cornerstone of Governor Martin O'Malley's legislative agenda this year, now moves to the Senate, where it cleared the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee late last month.
"History was made today," said Melissa Coretz Goemann, Legislative Director of ACLU of Maryland. "Delegates protected religious liberty while allowing for marriage equality."
Passage in the House, where a marriage equality bill stalled last year, is seen as a major milestone in this year's push to pass marriage equality. Activists can email their state Senators to voice their support of marriage equality.
Learn more about the Marylanders for Marriage Equality coalition -- including 1199 SEIU, Equality Maryland, Progressive Maryland, Human Rights Campaign, ACLU of Maryland, and others -- working to bring civil marriage equality to Maryland.
