Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley is
considering sponsoring a gay marriage bill.
According
to The
Washington Times, O'Malley spokeswoman Raquel Guillory said
on Tuesday that the governor will announce later this week whether he
plans to sponsor the measure.
Last Friday, O'Malley said he would
strongly back a new push for such legislation in his state.
The Democrat made his remarks at the
National Governors Association meeting in Salt Lake City.
Less than four months after a marriage
bill was suddenly shelved in the Maryland House after passage in the
Senate, proponents of marriage equality announced a second push for
the legislation, and have promised a broader campaign.
Proponents had called on the governor,
who supported this year's bill, to take on a more visible role in
advocating for the measure.
“I think that would really help build
our chances next session if the governor was one of the chief people
advocating for this bill vocally,” Darrell Carrington told the
Gazette.net. “That would have a huge effect on the outcome.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo played a
critical role in the passage of a gay marriage bill that takes effect
in the Empire State on July 24.