Maryland, Maine Approve Marriage Equality

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, with filmmaker John Waters looking on, addresses the crowd at a Manhattan marriage equality fundraiser. | GAY CITY NEWS

BREAKING | By a 52-48 percent margin, Marylanders approved a marriage equality law enacted earlier this year by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Martin O'Malley. Democrat O'Malley, considered a potential presidential candidate in 2016, campaigned hard to ensure that voters did not turn back the law.

And in Maine, pro-equality advocates are projected to win –– enjoying an eight-point lead with 60 percent of the vote tallied — in their effort to reverse a 2009 referendum that repealed a gay marriage law enacted earlier that year by the Legislature and governor. Then, marriage equality supporters lost 53-47 percent.

Voters in Washington State face a referendum similar to Maryland's on a marriage equality law approved earlier this year. Pro-equality forces held a four-point lead with half the vote counted.

Minnesota is voting on a referendum to amend the State Constitution to bar marriage by same-sex couples. With two thirds of the vote counted, the issue was virtually tied, but at 6:12 a.m. eastern time on November 7, the Associated Press reported that the anti-gay measure had achieved only 48 percent of all votes cast and therefore would not be approved.