"Gay marriage hearing continues in Maryland legislature"; similar legislation gains momentum in Maine

Maryland

03/13/09 Washington Times:

Maryland state legislators are considering legislation that "would allow civil marriages for gay couples." The proposed legislation is the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act. It "was amended to permit churches to refuse to perform gay wedding ceremonies" to accommodate concerns about "separation of church and state."

Equality Maryland provides "a collection of interviews and news stories relating to hearings on the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act before the House of Delegates and State Senate on March 11 and 12, 2009."

The Baltimore Sun also has an article about the legislation.

(Thanks to the Alliance Defense Fund staff for the Washington Times reference in its Alliance Alert.)

Maine

03/12/09 AP:

"AUGUSTA, Maine — The author of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine says more than 60 legislators from both parties have signed on as co-sponsors."

Maine Equality provides more information here about An Act to Prevent Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom. (124th Legislature, SP 384)

(Thanks to Stop8.org for links to the Baltimore Sun and AP articles.)