Maryland anti-gay marriage testimony found so 'appalling' by state senator Jim Brochin that he switched sides

Julie Bolcer of The Advocate reports that Maryland state senator James Brochin announced Thursday that he had changed his vote on the marriage equality bill from no to yes after listening to testimony at the bill's hearing..

“What I witnessed from the opponents of the bill was appalling," he said. “Witness after witness demonized homosexuals, vilified the gay community, and described gays and lesbians as pedophiles. I believe that sexual orientation is not a choice, but rather people are born one way or another. The proponents of the bill were straightforward in wanting to be simply treated as everyone else, and wanted to stop being treated as second-class citizens.

“For me, the transition to supporting marriage has not been an easy one, but the uncertainty, fear, and second-class status that gays and lesbians have to put up with is far worse and clearly must come to an end," he said.

With Brochin's support, 21 senators, including one Republican, publicly support the bill. The measure needs 24 votes to pass the senate, but 29 votes will be required to break an anticipated filibuster.
Prior to his announcement, The Baltimore Sun reported that Brochin, a Democrat from Baltimore County, said, "The demonization of gay families really bothered me. Are these families going to continue to be treated by the law as second class citizens?"

The marriage equality bill is predicted to pass the house of delegates, and Gov. Martin O’Malley has already confirmed that he will sign the bill if it passes.