Legislation that would allow gay and lesbian couples to legally marry in Maryland will be introduced in the state Senate this week, according to On Top Magazine.
The lead sponsor of the bill, Democratic Maryland state Sen. Rich Madaleno, told the magazine that he believes the chance of pro-gay marriage legislation passing is “the best it’s ever been.”
To expedite a vote on the measure during the Maryland Legislature’sshort 90-day session, lawmakers in each chamber will introduce separate bills. On Top wrote that, “Previous attempts to legalize gay unions have suffered setbacks in the Senate’s Judicial Proceedings Committee, but new assignments have boosted the number of supporters on the 11-member panel to six, paving the way for such a bill to reach the Democrat-controlled Senate floor.”
Maryland currently recognizes marriages of same-sex couples performed in other jurisdictions. Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley has vowed to sign marriage equality legislation into law should the state House and Senate approve it.
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