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Gay Marriage Debate Moves to Maine

Posted By | March 17, 2009




In November I wrote more than 1,000 words about the states that might legalize gay marriage this year, but didn't even mention Maine. Whoops.

Now, the issue is heating up in the state, as the York Weekly reports:

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine would join Massachusetts and Connecticut in allowing gay marriages if a bill before the Legislature in Augusta becomes law.

The operative word, however, is "if." People are lining up on both sides of the measure, new organizations are forming, clergy are taking active roles, and rhetoric is flying. It could be a drawn-out battle that continues through the summer and spills over into the fall.

I was especially remiss not to mention Maine because the state's voters have a history of supporting gay rights. In 2005, they voted to uphold a law that forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Vermont is probably the state that's most likely to legalize gay marriage this year, but Maine is worth watching too.



 


Josh Goodman
Josh Goodman

Josh Goodman is a former staff writer for GOVERNING..

E-mail: mailbox@governing.com
Twitter: @governing

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