In an epic motion of history, Governor Martin O’Malley signed a same-sex marriage bill into Maryland law Thursday, making it the eighth state to legalize gay and lesbian marriage in the United States.
The same-sex marriage bill was passed in the House of Delegates by a 72-67 vote earlier last month, followed by the Senate who favored the bill by a slim but qualifying 25-22 vote.
“Step by step, we continue to draw closer to full equality for every American,” said Mike Thompson, Acting President of GLAAD. “Today’s historic bill signing reflects the opinion of a growing majority of Americans who — regardless of race, political affiliation and religion — believe that every committed couple should be able to marry the person they love. Though opponents have already taken measures to deprive gay and lesbian Marylanders of the vital protections that only marriage can afford, we remain confident that voters will echo Governor O’Malley’s support for full equality.”
Opponents of marriage equality in Maryland have promised to seek the required 56,000 signatures to overturn the legislation by including a referendum on November’s ballot.
On the heels of Maryland is Washington state which also passed its same-sex marriage bill last month. The ‘Say WA!’ state will legally recognize gay and lesbian marriage in June 2012.
The legalization of same-sex marriage may be on the upswing for the rest of the nation. A new Field Poll suggests that same-sex marriage in California is on the rise with 59% of the state’s residents favoring same-sex unions. The poll showed that the largest increase in approval since 2010 came from unexpected groups including middle-aged voters, nonpartisans and Republicans.
