Md. Gay Marriage Bill Gets New Sponsors

The Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act will be introduced by two state senators today. Senators Jamie Raskin and Rich Madaleno, both Democrats from Montgomery County, will be named as the bill's lead Senate sponsors. They will fill the sponsorship void left by Senator Gwendolyn Britt, who passed away a couple of weeks ago.

The proposed bill validates marriages between "two people, not otherwise prohibited from marrying" instead of the one male and one female rule currently outlined in state law. Further, the bill states that anyone authorized to perform marriages in Maryland will not be required to perform any that go against their religious beliefs.

A press conference will be held in Annapolis at 11:30 a.m. to announce the bill's introduction.

The bill's chances of passage are rather slim, though. Despite the expected sponsorship in the House and Senate, legislative leaders and Gov. Martin O'Malley don't intend to promote the bill this term. Senate Democratic Leader Edward Kasemeyer told the Associated Press, "There's probably not a desire to take it up until some kind of consensus develops on what to do, and I don't see it happening."