MARYLAND: Marriage Equality Bill Advances 25-22 In State Senate

Maryland's marriage equality bill survived a number of amendment attempts today to pass 25-22 in a preliminary vote in the Senate. The final vote will take place tomorrow.

The Washington Post reports:

Measures were defeated that sought to allow religiously affiliated adoption agencies to refuse services to same-sex couples, to allow clerks of courts to refuse to conduct marriages based on religious objections and to exempt public school teachers from teaching materials that "promote" gay unions. A couple of other proposed amendments were added to the bill, including one that makes clear that religious organizations do not have to promote same-sex marriages through educational programs, counseling, retreats or summer camps.Senate Minority Leader Nancy Jacobs, an opponent of the bill, acknowledged after debate ended Wednesday that its passage was all but certain and said there were no plans for a filibuster - perhaps the only remaining hurdle in the Senate. "It definitely will pass," Jacobs (R-Harford) said. "We all know the outcome of this."

After tomorrow's state Senate vote, the bill goes to the Democrat-heavy House of Delegates where it is expected to pass easily. Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to sign the bill, so marriage equality in Maryland is essentially a DONE DEAL, people!