The Maryland Senate has approved legislation to give same-sex couples full marriage rights. The vote was 25-21.

“We can take nothing for granted in the House,” said Del. Heather R. Mizeur (D-Montgomery), an openly gay lawmaker.

Yesterday Hawaii became the seventh state to create the new legal status of civil unions, providing all of the benefits of marriage under a different name.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Obama administration’s announcement that it will no longer defend DOMA, conservatives vow to make gay marriage a 2012 issue. Towleroad has a round-up of conservative reaction.

I, for one, certainly hope they do.