Maine Moves Forward on Marriage Equality

Published January 13, 2009 @ 10:23AM PT

Civil Marriage After news yesterday that lawmakers in Indiana and Wyoming were pushing for constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage, folks in Maine organized today to launch a legislative bill to RECOGNIZE same-sex marriage. If passed, Maine would become the first state in the union to establish same-sex marriage through a legislative process.

Per Shenna Bellows, E.D. of Maine's ACLU (and courtesy of Pam's House Blend):

With the work of a team of dedicated advocates, this year Maine will become the third New England state to legalize civil marriage for same-sex couples. And we'll be first in the country to pass civil marriage through the legislature...and keep it.

Today I stood with a brave group of gay and lesbian couples, one amazing legislator, clergy, and an impressive array of civil rights groups to introduce "An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom." All loving, committed couples deserve the dignity and respect as well as the legal protections that marriage brings.

The bill is sponsored by Senator Dennis Damon (D-Hancock), a former schoolteacher, commercial fisherman and Maine High School "Baseball Coach of the Year."

As we've written about before, marriage equality advocates in Maine had one of the more brilliant strategies this past Election Day, organizing outside of voting precincts to target voters who support same-sex marriage. Their work nabbed 33,000 signatures that day of Maine residents who support marriage equality, and those signatures are now the foundation for which today's bill by Sen. Damon stands.

Check out the video below featuring several "Maine Equality Stories," highlighting the lives of LGBT persons in Maine fighting for the right of civil marriage. And do you want to help fight for marriage equality in Maine? Sign up at www.mainefreedomtomarry.org.

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Comments (3)

Wow this is exciting!

Having grown up in Maine, it sorta makes sense to me. There are a lot of strong socially liberal voices in Maine, but if this happens, it will likely because of our brand of conservatives.

Maine conservatives tend to be strongly libertarian with a live-and-let-live, dont-use-the-law-to-give-special-privellge-but-also-don't-use-it-to-take-away-privellege types. I think this is a really important demographic to connect with in the battle for equality and glad to see it happening!

Posted by Nathaniel Whittemore on 01/13/2009 @ 10:43AM PT
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I think its absolutely rediculous how they dont allow gay people to marry. I mean what is their basis argument for saying "its wrong". Religion? What happened to separation of church and state...And even more so, when did theology become a real "study"

Posted by Andy Jamison on 01/13/2009 @ 11:21AM PT
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I have cyberfriend in Maine who was part of that process. Here is her little blog for those interested...specially if you want yummy recipes.melouise.wordpress.com
More good news from the NE...New York is next.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 01/13/2009 @ 12:23PM PT
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Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He is the former Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, as well as the former Director of Communications for Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace and justice organization. Mike is a graduate of Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and he is also a proud sketch comedy writer.