Legalized! Gay Marriage Comes To Maryland (DETAILS)

Posted March 1, 2012 by The Decider for Global Grind Staff

With one stroke of the pen, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has signed the Marriage Protection Act of 2012, which legalizes same-sex marriage, joining eight other states and the District of Columbia.

STORY: Hip Hip Hooray! Maryland House Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill

O'Malley, a Democrat, signed the bill Thursday, a week after its final passage in the Legislature. The law is scheduled to take effect in January 2013.

However, the ink won’t get a chance to dry as opponents are expected to petition the law to a referendum on the November ballot.

Referendum organizers need to collect almost 56,000 signatures to put the measure before voters and are expected to rely heavily on churchgoers who oppose same-sex marriage as a matter of faith, to reach that goal.

As of now, gay Maryland residents are cheerful as they have the right to marry. Congrats to all!