Maryland joins US marriage push

The US state of Maryland’s House of Delegates last week passed a marriage equality bill in a 71-67 vote, making it the latest US state to move towards same-sex marriage.

The Civil Marriage Protection Act now goes to the Senate, which last year passed a similar bill and is expected do so again.

Maryland’s governor, Martin O’Malley (pictured), testified in support of the bill during a committee hearing.

Just a day prior, New Jersey passed a gay marriage bill, with the legislation going through the state Assembly on Thursday (US time) with a 42-33 vote.

The bill was later vetod by Republican governor Chris Christie.

Christie has long opposed gay marriage and had promised “very swift action” if the bill passed both houses of the Legislature.

A governor’s veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in each house, but the bill would need several Republican votes to get the numbers.

Christie has said he wants gay marriage put to a popular vote while his Democratic opponents say same-sex marriage is a civil right protected by the Constitution and not subject to referendum.

Six states and Washington, D.C. currently recognise gay marriages. Washington state’s new gay marriage law is scheduled to take effect in June.