Maryland Governor O’Malley Signs Marriage Equality Bill: Lambda Legal Celebrates

(New York, March 1, 2012) Today, Governor Martin O’Malley signed the Maryland marriage equality bill into law, adding the state to the growing list of U.S. jurisdictions granting marriage rights to same-sex couples.

Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart made the following statement:

"It's a great day for equality in Maryland. The state is indeed stronger today with marriage equality for same-sex couples and their families.

"This past month has been a momentous one for the LGBT community. From coast to coast—in Washington, New Jersey and Maryland— many elected officials are standing up for equality, and old-fashioned American values of fairness and common sense again have carried the day. People all across the country understand that marriage protects families, and that separate and unequal are not the American way.

"We congratulate our colleagues at Marylanders for Marriage Equality, who have worked tirelessly for this day. We also want to thank Governor O’Malley for his great leadership, and we are proud of the state legislators who voted for equality.

"Lambda Legal has been working towards marriage equality in Maryland for a long time. For years, we have defended out-of-state marriages of same-sex Maryland couples by winning recognition and benefits for police officers, school employees and other Marylanders."