VOTE BY VOTE

In Maryland, a marriage equality bill progresses forward with a 25-22 vote in the state's senate.

Next step:  Maryland's House of Delegates is Democrat-heavy.  And, that vote will happen tomorrow in there. Everything should pass.   Once it does, Governor Martin O'Malley promises to sign the bill quickly.

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."


via  washingtonpost