Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in Maine
Last Thursday, Maine's senate by a vote of 21-14 approved LD 1020, a bill affirming marriage equality in the state. Yesterday, the House followed suit and passed the bill by a margin of 89-58. This morning, Governor John Baldacci, who has stated previously that he does not support same-sex marriage, signed the bill into law, making Maine the 5th state in the country to offer marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples and the second to do so legislatively.
The governor issued a press release after the signing:
In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. [. . . .] [M]y responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do.
Governor Baldacci also stated that the state Constitution "guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people," hinting at a possible veto referendum to challenge the law. Dubbed the "People's Veto", the process only requires that opponents collect a sufficient number of signatures to place the referendum before voters. At that time, the people would choose whether to approve or reject the new law. Current polls show that 39% of Maine residents support same-sex marriage while 23% oppose any legal recognition. 34% support civil unions and not marriage.
The Maine Family Policy Council, a conservative evangelical group, has already started the process, saying:
Maine people twice rejected "gay" rights in the past decade. Homosexuality is very sad, and sinful. Maine must not create a culture that winks at something so debilitating on so many levels. To present this "orientation" as benign to impressionable children is the height of arrogance, and surely qualifies as evil.
Opponents have 90 days to collect the more than 55,000 signatures required to put the issue on the ballot.
Have any insight on this topic? Want to ask a question or make a suggestion? Click here to leave a comment.
Related Articles
- Maine Inches Ever Closer to Full Gay Marriage Rights
- Vermont Approves Same-sex Marriage
- Vermont’s Push for Same-Sex Marriage Halted?
- This Week in Gay News Roundup: 4/26 - 4/30
- Vermont Governor Pledges to Veto Marriage Bill