The Maryland Legislature Passes Marriage Equality

Even though Maryland and Virginia are only divided by the Potomac River, at times it seems that an ocean divides the two states, with Virginia playing the roll of the ignorant, backward "Dark Continent" while Maryland plays the roll of the home of the Enlightenment and modernity. The states' respective treatments of their LGBT citizens could not be more different. In Virginia, gays are treated as third class citizens and inferior to livestock and household pets while in Maryland a very different world exists. Indeed, the Maryland legislature has just passed a bill granting full marriage rights for same sex couples. True, the Christofascists will seek to place the issue up for a referendum vote, but at least the legislature has demonstrated that it is functioning in the 21st century. Here are highlights from the Washington Post:

A bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland was approved by the state Senate, which advanced a measure that narrowly cleared the House of Delegates last week.

The final vote by the state Senate ended a yearlong drama in Annapolis over the legislation, and marked the first time an East Coast state south of the Mason-Dixon line has supported gay nuptials. With the vote, the measure moves to Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), who has said he will sign it.

Maryland would join the District and seven states in allowing same-sex marriages. Supporters have cast the bill as a major advance in equal rights. Opponents have called it a misguided attempt to redefine the institution of marriage.

Despite one of the largest Democratic majorities in any state legislature, backers of gay marriage in Maryland had to overcome fierce opposition from blocks of African American lawmakers and those with strong Catholic and evangelical views to cobble together coalitions big enough to pass both chambers.

I can just imagine the spittle that must be flying at the headquarters of anti-gay hate groups. Little by little, we are winning the war and, as elderly bigots die off, the progress will accelerate in future years.