Add Maryland to the list of states that will soon legalize gay marriage for their citizens.
The Maryland state legislature gave its final OK Thursday to the law being sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who said he expects to sign it sometime this week.
STORY: Hip Hip Hooray! Maryland House Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill
The state Senate voted 25-22 for the law. The vote comes less than a week after the House of Delegates barely passed the measure.
Maryland will be the eighth state to allow gay marriage, when O’Malley – who sponsored the bill – signs the legislation.
O’Malley said on the passage:
“This issue has taken a lot of energy, as well it should, and I’m very proud of the House of Delegates and also the Senate for resolving this issue on the side of human dignity, and I look forward to signing the bill.”
Of course opponents are vowing to bring the measure to referendum in November. They will need to gather at least 55,726 valid signatures of Maryland voters to put it on the ballot and can begin collecting names now that the bill has passed both chambers.
Maryland Catholic Conference spokeswoman Kathy Dempsey said in a statement:
“The enormous public outcry that this legislation has generated – voiced by Marylanders that span political, racial, social and religious backgrounds – demonstrates a clear need to take this issue to a vote of the people.
Every time this issue has been brought to a statewide vote, the people have upheld traditional marriage.”
Looks like the fight rages on in Maryland, but at least the measure will be signed into law by Governor O’Malley early next week.
