O'Malley signs gay marriage bill

With Gov. Martin O’Malley’s signature on Thursday, Maryland became the eighth state to allow same-sex marriage.

O’Malley, a Democrat, signed the measure legalizing gay marriage into law at a 5 p.m. ceremony in the state capital.


“We are one Maryland and all of us at the end of the day want the same thing for our children,” O’Malley said. “We want them to live in a loving, caring, committed home that is protected equally under the law.”

Before he signed the measure, O’Malley highlighted Maryland’s history as a state founded on the principle of religious freedom. The “way forward” for the state, he said, is through the “greater respect for the equal rights of all.”

Same-sex marriages, however, will not be able to be legally performed in Maryland until January — and supporters expect another battle this fall. Opponents are planning to gather the nearly 56,000 signatures required to place an anti-gay marriage referendum on the November ballot.

In February, Washington state also legalized gay marriage with a law that will take effect on June 7, although opponents there are also moving to place an initiative on the ballot.

Maryland is now the eighth state to legalize same-sex marriage along with New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont and Washington, along with the District of Columbia.

The Maryland state Senate passed the bill 25 to 22, and the state House approved it 72 to 67.

This article tagged under: Same-Sex Marriage