Listen to this articleMaryland’s Legislature is expected to legalize same-sex marriage this
year.
It also is expected to pass a bill outlawing anti-trans discrimination.
Equality Maryland Executive Director Morgan Meneses-Sheets said the
marriage bill is being introduced in the House by Majority Leader Kumar
Barve and Delegate Keiffer Mitchell, and in the Senate by Majority Leader
Rob Garagiola and Sen. Richard Madaleno.
The measure is believed to have enough support to pass both chambers, and
Gov. Martin O’Malley has vowed to sign it into law if given a chance.
Maryland already recognizes same-sex marriages that take place in other
states and countries.
The trans-rights legislation will ban discrimination based on gender
identity or expression in employment, housing and credit. Gays, lesbians
and bisexuals already are protected under state law.
Same-sex marriage is legal in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C. Internationally, it is legal in
Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden and Mexico City.
