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Maryland House of Delegates Votes to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage!

Posted by on Feb 17, 2012 in U.S. | 3 comments

Maryland’s House of Delegates approved by a razor-thin margin a measure on Friday that would allow same-sex couples to marry, putting it on the road to joining six other states where gay and lesbian nuptials are legal.

In Maryland, state delegates voted 71 to 67 in favor of the “Civil Marriage Protection Act” after two hours of often-impassioned debate earlier in the day. It now heads for the Senate, which last year approved similar legislation and is widely expected to do so again.

That would set the stage for the measure to be signed into law by Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley, a gay marriage supporter who lobbied fervently for the bill this week. One of his chief tasks was to sway black lawmakers, many of whom were hesitant to back an issue opposed by much of the state’s black clergy.

If the Senate also approves the bill, Maryland will join Washington State and New Jersey in having legalized gay marriage this month. Though in New Jersey’s case, the governor shamefully vetoed the law.

Are we on a roll or what?!

(via Reuters)