(Photo: AP)ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP)- Members of the House of Delegates will begin debating a bill to legalize gay marriage Thursday morning.
Delegates are expected to consider amendments to the bill Thursday with a final vote possible this week.
Delegate Kathleen Dumais, a Montgomery County Democrat, said she expects lawmakers will offer amendments that create additional protections for religious freedoms and legalize civil unions for gay couples, moves supporters of the bill will likely reject.
As of Wednesday afternoon, advocates were still trying to lock down the last of 71 votes needed to pass the legislation.
Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been heavily lobbied in recent days as advocates on either side of the debate have taken note of the slim margin on which the issue is expected to be decided.
