20 January 2006

This just crossed the wires. A step toward gay marriage in our state. I know it's a long road, but at last -- some hope:

URGENT
Judge rules against Maryland's ban on same-sex marriage
Eds: UPDATES thruout; ADDS byline
By BRIAN WITTE
Associated Press Writer
BALTIMORE (AP) -- A Baltimore judge ruled Friday that Maryland's law against same-sex marriage "cannot withstand constitutional challenge," although she stayed action pending appeal.
Murdock wrote that "although tradition and societal values are important, they cannot be given so much weight that they alone will justify a discriminatory statutory classification."
A lawsuit filed in Baltimore by 19 gay men and women contended that Maryland's ban on same-sex marriages violates the guarantee of equal rights under the state constitution.