The Maryland legislature has passed and Gov. Martin O’Malley has signed a bill defining marriage to include same-sex couples. The legislation will take effect in January 2013 unless a proposed November referendum question overturns it. If the law remains intact, Maryland will become the eighth state with same-sex marriage.
The legislative vote was close. The bill passed the state senate 25 to 22 and the house of delegates 72 to 67. Organizations already mobilizing to challenge the law this fall.
