The Maryland Senate moments ago just passed “The Civil Marriage Protection Act,” a marriage equality bill, 25-21. Maryland’s lower house will debate their version tomorrow. The governor is fully expected to sign the bill should it pass the House, which it is expected to do.
Should the bill become law, same-sex couples will have the legal right to marry in the “free state,” but they still will not be afforded federal legal recognition.
However, with the Obama administration declaring DOMA unconstitutional yesterday, this stands to be a ground-breaking week for equality.