Updated: How Will New York's Gay Marriage Bill Affect Maryland?

Last week, the New York State Assembly voted to legalize same-sex marriage, something the Maryland legislature tried and in its last session.

So, what does New York's law mean for Maryland? We asked Del. Jeff Waldstreicher and Sen. Rich Madaleno, two Kensington Democrats who supported Maryland's last marriage equality bill and have said they will try again in the next session.

Madaleno said in an e-mail that the New York bill will help build momentum for states like Maryland seeking to legalize same-sex marriages.

"Maryland legislators and advocates, as well as the governor's office, will be able to use the New York victory as a model for moving marriage equality forward next session," he said. 

Waldstreicher said the success for marriage equality in New York is a landmark victory, but it does not make gay marriage around the country a forgone conclusion.

"Progress is not inevitable," he said. "Passing this bill (in Maryland) will be the product of hard work, creativity and boots on the ground."

In New York, Gov. Mario Cuomo did much of the legwork to get that bill passed, rallying senators from both parties around the cause, and Madaleno said Maryland could benefit from a similar model.

"Gov. (Martin) O'Malley did important behind-the-scenes work in helping us get marriage equality further than we ever have before in Maryland last session," he said. "I believe the marriage equality bill should be an administration bill to show that this issue has the full support and backing of the governor. I have personally asked Gov. O'Malley to sponsor marriage equality on several occasions over the past few months."

Waldstreicher said adopting New York's approach could be the key to legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland.

"Anyone who looks at New York sees that the governor's advocacy played a role in getting it passed," he said. "We've got to take a new approach, and the New York model provides an outline for what that approach might look like."