''I think that it's very difficult to deny equal rights to people when it comes to rights that are disbursed by a government rather than a faith or a church.... I believe that if we were to have civil unions, there would be no question about whether or not we would recognize unions in other states. And that's the way to move forward.''

Martin O'Malley, Democratic Governor of Maryland, sounding cautiously open to the possibility of Maryland following the District of Columbia's lead of recognizing gay and lesbian marriages performed in other states, but as civil unions? (WTOP)