Being a former resident of Maryland, I applaud O'Malley and laugh at Del. Burns.

O'Malley appears to have crafted a very good bill that should satisfy the religious community (voters) who are undecided about this, and may even sway previous opponents to marriage parity.

O'Malley, being a catholic himself, is taking a very bold stand. Though Arch Dioceses is officially opposing this, I know of many Catholic Churches, priests, nuns and laypeople who are very supportive of equal rights for ALL people, even gays and lesbians.

Burns is a fear mongering bigot who has accomplished very little in his tenure aside from being a thorn to most Democratic Governors and legislators of the State.

Hopefully his rhetoric will finally catch up to him and show him the door.

I'm very hopeful Maryland will pass it this year. Keep in mind the year Maryland voted Bush for President and Bob Erlich governor (a pre cursor of Tea Party politics and social tenets), they also passed a statewide law that added sexual orientation to the existing discrimination laws.