Gay couples are preparing for New Year’s Day weddings in the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to allow same-sex marriage, which will become legal in Maryland on Tuesday.

via Maryland Gay Marriage: Same-Sex Couples Prepare For Jan. 1 Weddings.

So happy for Maryland, a place I’ve adopted as home, even though I was born and raised elsewhere. When I lived in Maryland, O’Malley was generally referred to in our crowd as “the Boy Mayor of Baltimore.” Hot AND played in a band. What’s not to love??

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley looks on before signing the Civil Marriage Protection Act in Annapolis, Md., Thursday, March 1, 2012. Maryland is the eighth state to legalize same-sex unions. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)