The Maryland Senate passed a bill last night to allow gay marriages in the state by a vote of 25 to 21.  Maryland will join seven other states and the District of Columbia in permitting same sex marriages.

Govenor O’Malley said he would sign the bill into law.

However, the bill provides that the law will not go into effect until all legal challenges are exhausted.  Opponents of the bill appear to have enough signatures for a referendum, which means Maryland residents will vote on the law in the November elections.

Polls indicate that Maryland residents are fairly evenly divided on the issue.