Maryland Finalizes Marriage Referendum Language

The official language of the referendum on Maryland's marriage equality law has now been set.
The measure will be known as Question 6 on the November 6, 2012 ballot and will look like:

Establishes that Maryland’s civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.

The organization defending the law is Marylanders for Marriage Equality. They praised the ballot language as "accurate and straightforward." (A YES vote on the referendum supports marriage equality, just like the ballot measures in Washington and Maine.) The latest polling shows that marriage equality in Maryland is supported 54 percent to 40 percent.