Current Affairs

Governor O’Malley: Equal marriage law has a ‘real shot at prevailing’ in Maryland

Nov 01 2012
Written by Joseph McCormick

Governor Martin O’Malley, a strong supporter of the campaign to legalise equal marriage in the state of Maryland has said he thinks that if it keeps raising money, it is possible that the campaign will succeed.

Despite polls suggesting that support for equal marriage had slipped in the state, Governor O’Malley said that the campaign to legalise same-sex unions was in “good shape”.

In a conference call with reporters on Wednesday evening, Governor O’Malley said “We have a real shot at prevailing here,” reported the Washington Post.

He said that the campaign for equal marriage needed to raise around $400,000 (£248,000) in the next few days to stay on track, given that both sides of the debate had been airing frequent TV adverts in order to persuade voters either way.

Governor O’Malley also praised Brad Pitt, who agreed to donate $100,000 (£62,000) to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support equal marriage initiatives in several US states. including Maryland.

The pro-marriage equality group had raised $1.2 million (£744,000) during a two week period in October, on top of $3.2 million (£2 million) which the group had previously raised.

The Maryland Marriage Aliance, the main anti-equality group reported having raised $847,000 (£525,000) over the two week period, which equates to roughly the same as it had raised in total before October.

Despite the optimistic message from the state’s governor, polls have suggested that support had dropped in the state, which just two weeks ago looked set to become the first US state to legalise same-sex marriage by referendum.

However, Governor O’Malley described the most recent poll as an “outlier,” and said the the other polls had been a more accurate reflection of voters’ opinions.

As well as Brad Pitt, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg previously donated $250,000 (£155,430) to the pro-marriage equality campaign in the state.

A bill to legalise same-sex marriage in Maryland was passed by the Maryland General Assembly in February 2012 and signed into law on 1 March 2012, by Governor Martin O’Malley.

However, opponents of marriage equality successfully gathered signatures to force a referendum on the decision.

Question 6 will ask voters in the state to either keep or remove the law on 6 November 2012.

On 6 November, Washington and Maine voters will also decide whether or not to legalise equal marriage in those states. Minnesota voters will also choose whether to make a constitutional amendment which would define marriage as only between one man and one woman.