• Civil marriage equality in effect at the state level since 2013. (Same-sex couples may legally marry.)

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

• Maryland was the first state in the nation to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, expressly banning same-sex marriage, in 1973.
• In the 1990’s the legislature failed to pass attempts to legalize marriage equality and attempts to ban it.
• Marriage equality was ratified by both the MD legislature in February 2012, and by popular vote in November 2012.