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Md. First Lady Talks About Gay Marriage

BALTIMORE (AP) -- Maryland First Lady Katie O'Malley isn't mincing any words when it comes to describing why she thinks gay marriage legislation failed last year.

The first lady, speaking Thursday at the 24th annual Conference on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality on Thursday, said "there were some cowards that prevented it from passing."

A bill to allow same-sex marriage passed the Senate, but stalled in the House of Delegates.

O'Malley, who is a Baltimore judge, says she's hopeful things will be different this year. Her husband, Gov. Martin O'Malley, is making same-sex marriage legislation a priority of the legislative session.

The first lady says religion shouldn't play a role in determining the laws of the state of Maryland. She says same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue, not a religious one.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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