The Maryland House of Delegates has
voted to return a gay marriage bill to committee.
The
House acted after hearing hours of debate and rejecting two
proposed amendments to the legislation.
Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn, a Democrat
from Baltimore, sponsored an amendment that would have offered civil
unions to gay and lesbian couple instead of marriage.
A second amendment, introduced
late Thursday by Democratic Delegate John A. Olszewski, sought to
broaden the bill's religious exceptions.
Backers also fought off four amendments
considered unfriendly on Wednesday.
After nearly three hours of debate, the
141-member House moved to return the bill to the Judiciary Committee.
The measure stumbled out of that committee after two members
reversed their votes.
According to the Baltimore Sun,
the bill's fate remains unknown.
“It's unclear what will happen next,”
the paper reported. “As recently as this morning, gay marriage
supporters were scurrying to reach the 71 votes needed for passage.
Recommitting the bill to House Judiciary give them more time, but it
also further deflates momentum.”