Now, Maggie Gallahager had sprinted (as best she can) down to Maryland to testify in defense of traditional marriage that gays were unworthy. National Organization for Marriage's Brian Brown called her testimony powerful, in a statement:

"Despite Maggie's powerful testimony, we know this committee today was stacked against us, and we expect the legislation to be on the Senate floor as early as next week," said Brown. "That is where the real action will be, and I would urge all of Maryland's state senators to review Maggie's testimony before they vote on the floor next week. This is no casual act they are considering."

It does indeed seem to have had a powerful effect. From Equality Maryland:

SENATOR BROCHIN'S STATEMENT RELEASED TO THE PRESS



After an almost 8-hour hearing on Tuesday, Senator Brochin found some of the opponents’ testimony on same-sex marriage (SB 116 – Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act) to be "troubling." The Baltimore County Democrat had previously said he was against same-sex marriage, but is now reconsidering his stance. "What I witnessed from the opponents of the bill was appalling." Brochin said. "Witness after witness demonized homosexuals, vilified the gay community, and described gays and lesbians as pedophiles. I believe that sexual orientation is not a choice, but rather people are born one way or another The proponents of the bill were straightforward in wanting to be simply treated as everyone else, and wanted to stop being treated as second-class citizens. Brochin added, "For me, the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one, but the uncertainty, fear, and second-class status that gays and lesbians have to put up with is far worse and clearly must come to an end."

This story had been teased earlier, with Brochin telling the Baltimore Sun yesterday:

"The demonization of gay families really bothered me," Brochin said. "Are these families going to continue to be treated by the law as second class citizens?"

Two words for Maggie Gallagher.

She spent today up in Rhode Island testifying again. I hope she another "powerful" effect on the fine men and women of the legislature there.