A marriage equality bill passed a hurdle in the Maryland legislature yesterday.
A measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland advanced Tuesday to the full House of Delegates, where a pitched fight — with a still-uncertain outcome — is expected in coming days over one of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s leading priorities.
A pair of House panels jointly approved the bill 25 to 18, after Democratic delegates turned back an attempt to substitute civil unions for marriage and Republicans complained about the unusual step of having two committees vote together.
Supporters, who hailed the measure as an advance in equal rights, said they were cautiously optimistic it would pass the full House — where a similar bill died last year after narrowly clearing the Senate.
It’s nowhere near a done deal, but following fast on the heels of Washington and New Jersey (even with the veto promise), it’s momentum. (Or, as we say at Shakesville, “homomentum!”)
