Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley has introduced new legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland that would offer more protections than a similar proposal he raised last year, according to the
Baltimore Sun.
O’Malley’s new version contains a number of protections for religious groups and institutions that refuse to perform or recognize same-sex marriages, the Sun reported Tuesday. Last year, a measure cleared the state Senate but stalled in the House of Delegates.
According to the Sun, O’Malley told reporters that by making protections in the bill “a little clearer” he hoped to gain “additional support” for passage. The Sun reported that O’Malley planned to lay out the details of his new bill at a breakfast Tuesday morning for gay advocates and religious leaders.
If it wins approval in the legislature, Maryland would join six other states and Washington, D.C., in allowing same-sex marriages.
Washington state, according to report Monday in the Los Angeles Times, may also have enough votes to pass a same-sex measure this year.
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