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Marylanders are next to bat for their marriage equality bill.  Governor O’Malley will sign the bill should it pass, and he’s actively lobbying members of his legislature to pass the bill immediately.  Amendments were bandied about this morning.  It looks like the only amendment that passed was one that complies with Maryland law (lore?), which says that the courts have to OK the bill before it goes into effect, which means all lawsuits against it are settled.

I sure hope that doesn’t mean anti-gays can just keep suing the bill forever.  I have every faith in Democracy that won’t be the case.

(uncertain groan)

The amendment that is most interesting that was defeated was the “automatic referendum” one.  This doesn’t mean there won’t be a Prop-8-y referendum.  Signatures to raise a referendum are easily gotten and cajoled in such times.  I just like that they’re gonna have to work their legs a little.

A debate-plus-vote is scheduled for 4:30 PM EST today on the matter, and while this will be posted well before that comes to be (lots of contention about if the votes are there or not, fingers crossed!), I’m very intrigued by the bigwigs who are intervening on this issue and calling the delegates to win their side’s support.

Maryland delegate Wade Kach came out in support of the bill, and said it was the following phone calls that influenced him:

Former Republican National Convention chairman Ken Mehlman, now an out gay man.

*New York Mayor Bloomberg, and…

*Former Vice President Dick Cheney

Wellity, wellity.  The boogey-man of Republican American politics for the majority of the 21st century has come out in support of gay rights causes, only after he stopped piloting the spaceship, mind you, but still: a get is a get!

But Dick Cheney was to be bested by the anti-gay marriage side.  A real big gun.  The Vatican picked up the phone and called Maryland, and they weren’t looking for crabs:

Kevin Kelly, Maryland Democrat, and NOT the new gay character added to Archie Comics–

–was already staunchly in opposition to the bill, but he got a call from Cardinal O’Brien, who called to thank him for his support.  Said Kelly:

“He just called to thank me.  To thank me for standing firm.  It was better than a call saying you’ve been excommunicated.  I’ve never gotten a call from the Vatican before.  I was impressed.”

Ha.  How long before state congressmen across the country start realizing that the fame, money, glory and swag lies in being the swing vote?  If I were them, I’d start coyly saying I could go either way, and just wait for the diamonds, spa packages and calls from George Clooney to come rolling in.

All I need is a "yes." C'mon, Bulova watch? Lunch with Meryl Streep?