Support for Same-Sex Marriage at Howard County Delegation Hearing (WITH VIDEO)

Updated 2/24/11, 7:20 p.m.

The Maryland Senate passed SB 116, the Civil Marriage Protection Act on Thursday. The bill now moves to the House of Delegates for debate.

Just a few hours after the  to a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland, Josh Sullivan told members of the Howard County delegation that his family – his husband and two young sons –would appreciate their support of the bill once it reached the House.

"To those of you who haven't decided" or who are not in favor of the bill, he said, "I'd ask that you consider what I'm about to say."

Sullivan, who did not say where he was married, is a Columbia resident who married 10 years ago. He outlined the difficulties he and his husband faced and the lengths they went to in trying to assure their sons would be provided for should anything happen to one of them.

Still, he said, all of the paperwork, trust funds and powers of attorney "don't equal civil marriage, frankly."

Sullivan was one of about a dozen people who testified in favor of legalizing civil marriage for same-sex couples in Maryland.

The final Senate vote on SB 116, the Civil Marriage Protection Act, came Thursday night.Testimony on the House bill (co-sponsored in Howard County by Elizabeth Bobo, Guy Guzzone, Shane Pendergrass and Frank Turner) is expected to begin Friday.

The bills legalize civil marriages "between two individuals who are not otherwise prohibited from marrying," while stating that religious institutions will not be required to solemnize marriages that are at odds with the institutions' religious beliefs.

Those who testified at Wednesday's hearing talked about their families, their weddings and, in some cases, their decisions not to have ceremonies in – or bring business to – a state that didn't recognize their unions.

Chris Riley said he and his partner didn't see why they should have friends and family fly in and give business to hotels and restaurants if they can't get a civil marriage.

"There’s a lot of money to be made by having all marriages be recognized in this state," the Elkridge resident testified.

About three residents testified in opposition, with one citing money as a reason for being against such a plan.

"What I hear is ... 'I want access to the benefits; I want access to the social security; I want access to whatever trust funds,' it's about money," J'Neanne Theus said.

"I'm a financial adviser," the Clarksville resident said. "I know what the deal is."

Theus asked the delegates how they would "legislate morals... When you force people to accept something they disagree with, you're going to have problems across the board," she said, "so I am not in favor of this legislation."