Gov . Martin O'Malley will sign into law Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland , making it the seventh state to do so . `` All children deserve the opportunity to live in a loving , caring , committed , and stable home , protected equally under the law , '' O'Malley said in a statement after the vote . The Maryland House of Delegates approved the measure less than two weeks after Washington legislators voted to legalize same-sex marriage . That measure will take effect in the summer if it survives a likely court challenge . Six states and the District of Columbia already issue same-sex marriage licenses -- Connecticut , Iowa , Massachusetts , New Hampshire , New York and Vermont . Five states -- Delaware , Hawaii , Illinois , New Jersey and Rhode Island -- allow civil unions that provide rights similar to marriage . New Jersey lawmakers approved same-sex marriage this month , but Gov . Chris Christie vetoed the legislation . He has said voters should decide the issue in a statewide referendum . Voters in North Carolina and Minnesota , meanwhile , will consider proposals in May and November , respectively , to ban gay marriage in those states . New Hampshire lawmakers may also consider a repeal of its same-sex marriage law , according to the National Organization for Marriage , which opposes same-sex marriage . Lawsuits seeking to expand civil unions or turn back laws banning same-sex marriages are working through the courts in at least 12 states , including Hawaii , Minnesota and California , the organization said . Same-sex marriage became a national issue in 1993 , after the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that a ban on same-sex marriages violated the state constitution . Legislation was introduced recently to allow same-sex marriages in Illinois , and bills from 2011 remain technically active in Hawaii and Minnesota , said Jack Tweedie of the National Council of State Legislatures . It 's unclear whether any will see significant action , he said . An effort is also underway to put a proposal to legalize same-sex marriage on the November ballot in Maine , where voters previously overturned a 2009 state law authorizing same-sex marriage . In California , meanwhile , a federal appeals court recently ruled against a voter-passed referendum that outlawed same-sex marriage . It said such a ban was unconstitutional and singled out gays and lesbians for discrimination . The case appears to be eventually headed to the U.S. Supreme Court .
When the bill is signed , Maryland will be the eighth state to allow same-sex marriage . Comment: The Supreme Court ruled in June that states can ban gay marriages if they want to. Chris Gregoire signed a law legalizing the unions earlier this month . New Jersey lawmakers approved same-sex marriage this month , but Gov . Chris Christie vetoed the legislation . Neither side in the same-sex marriage debate is declaring victory .