Maryland Delegate Comes Out 

On the eve of Maryland's house of delegates vote on the state's marriage equality bill, Del. Peter Murphy told the Washington Blade in an interview published Wednesday that he's gay.

The divorced father of two told the Blade his family and colleagues have known he's gay for years.

"I have never denied [being gay]," Murphy said, "I just presumed people knew."

Murphy is the eighth openly gay member of Maryland's legislature, the most of any state on the country, according to the Blade. There is one openly gay state senator -- Rich Madaleno -- and now seven members of the house of delegates.

Murphy told the Blade he is confident Maryland's marriage equality bill will pass Friday.

"As I have said all along, I think it's a strong civil rights bill," Murphy said. "I think it's a fair bill because it also addresses the religious issue and doesn't require any religious organization to practice something that goes against their teachings."

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