(Maryland) Senate approves gay marriage; House passage not assured

[jefferson_dem]

Source: WaPo

By John Wagner

The Maryland Senate narrowly approved legislation Thursday that would legalize same-sex marriages following a day of emotional and often personal debate laced with references to religion and civil rights.

The 25-to-21 vote sent the bill to the House of Delegates, traditionally the more liberal chamber on social issues, but where supporters acknowledged Thursday that they still were a couple of votes shy of the majority needed for passage.

During Senate debate, supporters called the legislation a matter of fairness, arguing that same-sex couples should be entitled to the hundreds of rights conferred by the state on other married couples.

"It provides full equality under the law for ... couples like Mark and myself," said Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), an openly gay lawmaker, referrring to his partner of more than a decade with whom he has two young children.

Several of his colleagues countered that marriage should be reserved for couples that can procreate and urged the Senate not to broaden its definition.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2011/02/senate_approves_gay_marriage_h.html

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[msongs]

2. religion should have nothing to do with it - after all the bible says slavery is good nt

[Fearless]

3. Let's not even talk about women's rights.

[Swede Atlanta]

4. Slow progress....................

This would be another step on the path until the majority of states have accepted equality for GLBT persons. I fear that Obama's decision to decline defending DOMA is misunderstood and mischaracterized. He must, as chief executive defend the laws of the land. The distinction here is that he no longer wants to assert that the law passes muster under the equal protection clause. There is nothing in his decision that prevents the JD from proceeding to defend based on other grounds.

I don't know what sparked this other than Obama realizing that the country has moved beyond this issue and HE needs the base support as he faces the possibility of defeat in 2012.

[Betty]

5. marriage only for those who can procreate?

really?