ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Gay marriage may not be in Maryland’s immediate future, but same-sex civil unions could be.

Another top Maryland official said Oct. 9 that he supports civil unions, three weeks after the state’s highest court punted the gay marriage question to the state’s legislature.

“I believe in civil unions,” Democratic House Speaker Michael Busch said. “I think people should have the same rights as far as probate is concerned, as far as health care is considered, as far as visitation and all those things.”

Busch’s comments come after Gov. Martin O’Malley, a fellow Democrat, said he would support civil unions. Even with the support of the governor and speaker, obstacles remain to civil unions in Maryland.

Democratic Maryland Senate President Mike Miller told The Washington Post last month that he opposes civil unions, and activists on both sides of the debate oppose civil unions.

Equality Maryland, a gay rights group, argues that civil unions would establish a separate-but-equal system for same-sex couples.