In what seems to be the exact opposite of what Virginia has going on for it regarding gay marriage, today a Baltimore judge ruled that same-sex couples should be given the right to marry in that state.

The suit was originally filed by nineteen gay men and women who were arguing that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional because it violated the guarantee of equal rights. As quoted in the Post, Judge M. Brooke Murdock ruled that Maryland’s ban on gay marriage “cannot withstand constitutional challenge.”

In what seems to be a particularly valid point, Murdock is also quoted in the Post article as having written, “while tradition and societal values are important,” discriminatory law in any way, shape or form just doesn’t fly. Discrimination is discrimination, implies Murdock, even if it’s to try and preserve those perfunctory societal norms that are supposed to give shape to the lay of the land.

As for the District and gay marriage, we all know about that hot issue. The city is fast becoming more and more progressive on gay rights, though they always run the risk of provoking a Congressional veto.