Md. Dem. Backtracks on Marriage

Sam Arora, a Maryland delegate who campaigned on marriage equality last year, has indicated that he may not vote for the bill when it gets to the house floor.

Joe Sudbay at Americablog Gay reports on the backtracking by Arora, who represents a liberal Montgomery County district. A sponsor of the marriage equality bill, he said he would vote for the measure in the house judiciary committee, but he has not committed to support it on the house floor.

“Let's just say, this has been a stunning development for people close to the issue,” writes Sudbay. “Only lately, like in the past week, have advocates in Annapolis heard Arora talk about deeply held religious beliefs that could impact his vote. No one knows for sure, except him.”

The wavering from Arora follows a turn of events Tuesday when two Democratic sponsors on the judiciary committee, Jill Carter and Tiffany Alston, suddenly raised concerns and missed a scheduled vote. They have since indicated they are ready to move forward although the path ahead for the bill remains perilous.

The senate passed the bill by a vote of 25 to 21 last week after limited debate.