ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gander became the state’s first statewide elected official Feb. 14 to endorse gay and lesbian marriage equality, telling legislators that he believes the current laws are discriminatory.

“It would be hard for me to have this job knowing there is something so wrong in our society,” Gansler told the Senate panel considering a bill to legalize gay marriage. “I just think it’s wrong to discriminate against any people because they think differently or because of their sexual orientation.”

Gansler was one of the many people who testified in favor of marriage equality before a Maryland state senate committee Valentine’s Day. The committee is considering approving full marriage equality or civil unions or some other form of domestic partnerships. It also has a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage before it.

State Sen. Richard Madaleno, who is openly gay, said he and his partner were “married” in a church ceremony seven years ago. But under Maryland law, he told the committee, he and his partner are “legal strangers.”

“Without marriage, we live in a state of legal limbo,” Madaleno said. “Without marriage, instead of security we have fear.”