February 17, 2012

The Maryland House of Delegates voted tonight to legalize same-sex marriage in the U.S. state. The bill passed by a margin of 71 to 67 among representatives.

(Also today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bill passed in his state's Assembly and Senate earlier this week, which also would have allowed same sex marriage in the Garden State.)

In the lead-up to Maryland's vote, many voices weighed in on the issue - Dick Cheney, Ken Mehlman and Michael Bloomberg all apparently been lobbied in support of equal marriage. On the other side, Cardinal-elect Edwin O'Brien stated that he is against marriage equality for gays and lesbians in the state.

One more voice weighed in just ahead of today's vote: Michael K. Williams, who played Omar on 'The Wire' and Albert "Chalky" White on 'Boardwalk Empire' speaks on behalf of marriage equality activists in this video, released on Friday.

Michael was on the show earlier this season. Check out his reaction upon hearing a recording for the first time of Barack Obama talking about Omar:

Sources:

The Baltimore Sun

The Washington Post

Slate