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Maryland Senate passes same-sex marriage bill
By Lou Chibbaro Jr. on February 24, 2012
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/02/24/maryland-senate-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill/ (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/02/24/maryland-senate-passes-same-sex-marriage-bill/)
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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has pledged to sign a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples. (Blade photo by Michael Key)(//)
The Maryland Senate voted 25 to 22 Thursday night to approve a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, clearing its final hurdle in the state legislature before it goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley, who has pledged to sign it.
The historic vote triggered a burst of applause and cheers in the Senate chamber by supportive lawmakers and LGBT activists, who packed the visitor's gallery.
"We could not be more grateful to the senators who today voted to make all Maryland families stronger," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, which is a member of Marylanders for Marriage Equality, a coalition of LGBT and allied organizations that pushed for the bill.