In a historic and moving step, the Maryland Senate passed a gay marriage bill tonight by a 25-22 vote, which means that MD could soon become the eighth United State to support same-sex marriage. Of course, opponents hope (and vow) to turn the tables in a public vote in November — and they may well succeed. Church groups and conservative opponents are working diligently on a petition drive even as exciting news of the bill’s passage breaks across the nation.

But a story in today’s Los Angeles Times offers an extra jolt of optimism for those of us who fully support same-sex unions.

“Supporters of gay marriage…point to polls that show increasing numbers of voters back the right for same-sex unions, and they are hopeful that a referendum would go in their favor…” writes Ian Duncan. “A nationwide CBS News/New York Times poll conducted in February showed 40 percent of respondents favored allowing same-sex marriages, while 23 percent supported civil unions and 31 percent rejected either measure.” Forty percent, excellent and striking news.

By the way, those six other states that allow gay marriage currently are: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York. Washington state and Maryland will be numbers seven and eight if looming referendum challenges fail. Washington, D.C., also allows gay marriage.

In light of the encouraging evidence that more and more people are supporting same-sex unions, we’d like to take this opportunity to ask you whether your view of the issue has changed in the last five years? What about the last 10?

And where do you expect the vast majority of the country may stand on the topic in the next five and 10 years, respectively?

We believe — as we hope and pray — that soon enough, surely before young school-age children are old enough to vote, the right of every man and woman to marry any mentally fit adult he or she loves will no longer be considered an issue at all state to state, but a lawful state of being.

We also feel confident that someday, in the not too distant future, our country will look back at its strict resistance to same-sex unions as one of the great human rights abuses of all time.

Do let us hear your thoughts. And congratulations on this week’s happy headline, fellow Marylanders!