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Politics & Government

House Committee Backs Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Senate passed the legislation last week.

Capital News Service

ANNAPOLIS—The Maryland House Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 Friday to forward a same-sex marriage bill to the full House of Delegates.

The bill passed after three days of uncertainty. Committee Chairman Joseph Vallario called a special voting session on the bill Tuesday, but two members and co-sponsors of the bill, Delegates Tiffany Alston, D-Prince George's, and Jill Carter, D-Baltimore, did not show up that day.

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The Civil Marriage Protection Act, which passed in the Senate last week, would redefine marriage from "between a man and a woman" to "between two individuals," and protect churches from performing same-sex unions if the practice violates their beliefs.

The full House of the Delegates could take up same-sex marriage as early as next week. Gov. Martin O'Malley supports the legislation.

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Both Carter and Alston raised concerns about the way the bill moved through the committee and Alston ultimately shifted her vote against same-sex marriage, "for my constituents," she said. Alston said she has been getting thousands of calls and emails this week, which ultimately influenced her decision to cast her vote against marriage equality.

As a compromise, Alston proposed a civil union amendment to the bill, despite what she felt was pressure from the leadership. Republican opponents of same-sex marriage praised Alston, a freshman, for standing up to leadership. Del. Susan McComas, R-Harford, called her a "profile in courage."

Alexandra Hughes, a spokeswoman for Speaker Michael Busch, responded in an email: "The Speaker has made it clear to all members of the House that this is a vote of conscience. He did not pressure any individual members to offer or not to offer amendments—either in Committee or on the floor of the House."

Del. Keiffer Mitchell Jr., D-Baltimore, and a supporter of the bill, said civil unions are equivalent to the "separate but equal" ideas from the 1960s. Mitchell was seen hugging and congratulating supporters following the vote.

The committee voted 11-10 against the civil union amendment, with Vallario casting the swing vote to save the bill in its current state. Carter abstained from voting on the amendment because she said she ultimately supported the full same-sex marriage bill.

The bill's passage was met with sighs of relief from supporters. Del. Luke H. Clippinger, D-Baltimore, an openly gay freshman delegate, said passage sends a huge message to gay and lesbian Marylanders.

"It means that we're that much closer to true equality," Clippinger said.

When asked how he felt after the vote, Darrell Carrington, a board member of Equality Maryland, pumped his fists and said, "Yes, yes, yes!"

"We are excited for next week. The bill will be on the floor maybe next Tuesday. I think we're right there," Carrington said.

If passed, Maryland would join five other states and the District of Columbia in allowing same-sex marriage.

Opponents have vowed to take the issue to voters in a referendum. They believe same-sex marriage would be defeated in a Maryland referendum, just as it has been in California, Maine and other states.

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