Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley rallied supporters behind a new effort to legalize same-sex marriage on Tuesday, but opponents of the new bill said they, too, are getting organized. Called the Civil Marriage Protection Act, the bill places a heavier emphasis on protecting religious freedom than a bill that failed last year by protecting religious leaders, not just religious groups, from having to perform marriages that violate their beliefs, said Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for O’Malley.

“This bill is about fairness. It’s about striking that balance between religious freedom and the freedom to marry the person and raise a family that you choose, and the governor has been and will continue to work hard to ensure passage,” Guillory said.

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