Maryland Gay Marriage Bill Fails

Gay marriage has been put on hold in Maryland: The state’s Democrats failed to get enough votes by Friday to pass a bill that would have made same-sex marriage legal in that state, since the state’s upper chamber had already approved the proposal. Dems withdrew the bill following hours of emotional debate after realizing it fell far short of the 71 votes needed to pass. Maryland’s Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch vowed to bring the bill back next year. About one-third of Democrats in the House opposed the bill.