Gay Marriage Bills Proposed In MD

Gay Marriage Bills Proposed In MD

Associated PressFriday Jan 25, 2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md.― Measures to allow gay marriages in Maryland are being proposed Friday in the state legislature.Sponsors say the bills will repeal current gender definitions in state marriage laws, allowing same-sex couples to marry. But the bill will include a caveat that no religious officials will be required to conduct or even recognize the unions.Sponsors say they have more than 50 sponsors in the House and Senate on the bill. But many lawmakers -- and Governor Martin O’Malley -- have indicated no interest in taking up a gay marriage bill this year.Several Republicans plan to sponsor a rival proposal in coming days to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.