SALISBURY, Md.- When it comes to same-sex marriage, people tend to feel one way or the other and are unlikely to change their minds. In Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley's gay marriage bill has already passed through the Senate. It is now up to the House to keep it alive.
This is the same position the bill was in last year, before it was killed.
A rally Monday night in Annapolis made the voices of hundreds of supporters clear; they want state lawmakers to make same-sex marriage legal. That support is echoed here on Delmarva.
"Personally, people like what they like and they like who they like. Who are we to tell them they can't like who they like and get married," said Meghan Armstrong of Columbia.
Salisbury resident Jennifer Kirtland said, "I definitely think that it needs to pass. I think that same-sex marriage is a love between two people and they should have the same rights as anybody."
But it seems for everyone who supports the gay marriage bill, there is someone with a completely different opinion on what the delegates should do.
"It's a religious matter and I think the government should stay out of it," said Nancy Allen of Salisbury.
"I don't think the government should be involved at all. It's separation state, religion," agreed Salisbury resident Barbara Bratkowski.
But it is the government that will determine the bill's fate.
Del. Mike McDermott (R-District 38B) voted against the measure last year and said he has no intention of changing his mind. He said fellow delegates need to remember the people before casting their votes.
"We're not up here representing ourselves, so when you look back on your constituent base and you say, 'How do the folks back home feel about this,' overwhelmingly the delegates that are in the House are dealing with districts that are not in favor of this direction for the state," McDermott said.
McDermott's counterpart, Del. Norman Conway (D-District 38B) was tied up chairing the Appropriations Bill Committee Tuesday and was unavailable for comment. Conway supports the legislation.
If the bill passes through committee, it will go on to a second reading on the House floor.
McDermott thinks the issue should be put to a referendum, to let the voters decide whether or not same-sex marriage should be legalized in Maryland.
