Supporters of Same-Sex Marriage Rally at Lawyers' Mall

ANNAPOLIS - As couples celebrated Valentine's Day across the country, hundreds packed Lawyers' Mall in Annapolis to show their support for Senate Bill 116, the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act.

If passed into law, the bill would allow same-sex couples the right to marriage in the state of Maryland and as the bill states, alter "a provision of law establishing that only certain marriages are valid in this State."

Jill Christianson of Columbia attended the rally with her partner, Pamela Henry. Christianson said the rally is a message to all Maryland residents, "that we all should have equal rights in the state," she said.  "Love is love. We all stand on the side of love."

Henry said it is important for the couple to be able to marry because they have three children between them.

Senator Rob Garagiola (D-15th District), who sponsored the bill, addressed the crowd, telling them how close the bill is to getting the support it needs to pass.

"We are at the end of what I would say is a long journey," said Garagiola. "We need to make that final push over the finish line.

"We are so close. We are so close to getting marriage equality in the state of Maryland and this state should not stand in the way and the colleagues that are against it should not stand in the way," Garagiola said.

The rally was organized by Equality Maryland with the support of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis, and others across the state.

After the rally, those attending were urged to visit their local legislators and ask for their support of the bill.