As Maryland’s battle over same-sex marriage continues to intensify, advocates of marriage equality received support from the state’s attorney general yesterday. Douglas Gansler told a Senate panel that that he things the state’s current ban on same-sex unions is tantamount to discrimination, according to The Baltimore Sun.

“It would be hard for me to have this job knowing there is something so wrong in our society,” Gansler said. “I just think it’s wrong to discriminate against any people because they think differently or because of their sexual orientation.”

Gansler also noted his doubt that lawmakers would have the “political courage” to legalize gay marriage this year, and would settle for civil unions.

Gansler’s support makes him the state’s most prominent elected official to support same-sex marriage.