Maryland Governor O’Malley to co-host same-sex marriage benefit

Maryland’s Democratic Governor Martin O’Malley is expected to co-host a fundraiser in Ocean City next week on Tuesday with House Speaker Michael E. Busch to benefit the same-sex marriage campaign. Busch is a former civil unions supporter, who said last year he had “evolved” on the matter. His role was vital in moving the legislation through the House of Delegates this year. The benefit is scheduled to coincide with a four-day convention of the Maryland Municipal League, which is expected to attract more than 1,500 local officials and corporate sponsors.

Governor O’Malley has been active around the country raising money for Marylanders for Marriage Equality, the organization leading the effort to uphold the state’s new same-sex marriage law in a referendum expected in November. As chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, O’Malley has held separate fundraisers on several out-of-state trips to aid the same-sex marriage cause in Maryland.