O’Malley pledges support for new state marriage bill

After this state's same-sex marriage bill was abruptly defeated in March, Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) is throwing his support behind the bill early to ensure this contentious legislation passes next year.

On the heels of the passage of a similar bill in several states, many supporters of same-sex marriage believed the bill would receive the necessary votes in this state. However, after it was returned to committee in the state's House of Delegates, proponents of the legislation vowed to continue the fight this legislative session.

Along with 14 other state and local leaders, O'Malley signed a letter supporting the Respect for Marriage Act — a repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The bill was voted on in the Senate Judiciary Committee Nov. 10 and passed with a 10 to 8 vote.

While the legislation is currently making its way to be voted on in the U.S. Senate, officials want the bill passed in this state in case it fails on a national stage.

And advocates for same-sex marriage have a game plan: This legislative session, O'Malley will sponsor the bill.

"He will personally be lobbying for the passage of the bill," said Raquel Guillory, O'Malley's spokeswoman. "This time he thought it may stand a better chance if it's a governor's bill."

In front of a crowd of 50 students last year, the Student Government Association voted to endorse marriage equality at the state level. SGA President Kaiyi Xie said he hopes to garner enough support for the bill within the body next semester.

"I definitely think it has a lot more potential this year," Xie said. "I think the vast majority of students on this campus do support same-sex marriage."

Xie said the SGA has recently supported several strides in same-sex equality, such as encouraging the University System of Maryland to extend benefits to homosexual couples. He said he looks forward to lobbying state officials to support the bill in Annapolis next year.

However, the bill does face some formidable opponents, such as some conservative and religious groups, said Delegate Pat McDonough (R-Baltimore and Harford).

"On this issue, you have the Black Ministerial Alliance, the Catholic Church, the Jewish community, the Christian churches, the Tea Party and conservative traditional groups," he said.

This opposition could force the bill to be put to a public vote on next year's ballot referendum.

"You're going to find the same kind of passion and outrage from the opposition, which means it will probably go to referendum," said McDonough, who considers himself an opponent of the same-sex marriage bill.

marcot@umdbk.com