Today, Maine Governor John Baldacci signed a bill that will legalize same-sex marriage in Maine. The bill had passed Maine’s legislature on Tuesday.
John Baldacci
Maine is now the fifth state in which same-sex marriage is legal. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and Iowa all already allow same-sex marriage.
After the passage of Proposition 8 in California in 2008, it appeared that those supporting same-sex marriage had suffered a set back. However, in 2009, the trend appears to be toward allowing two men or two women to marry each other.
More states are likely to follow Maine’s lead. Both New Hampshire and Rhode Island are considering similar bills currently. In all likelihood, same-sex marriage will be legal in all of New England within the next year or so.
By signing the bill, Governor Baldacci reversed his position on gay marriage, which he opposed in the past. He stated in a public announcement today, “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.”
Those opposing same-sex marriage in Maine are likely to try to overturn this bill with a public referendum. In Maine, voters can petition for a bill to be brought before the state’s voters in a general vote. Thus, same-sex marriage in Maine, as in California in 2008, may become the subject of a popular vote.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The assertion that “Those opposing same-sex marriage in Maine are likely to try to overturn this bill with a public referendum” is certainly true, but the success of their venture is in grave doubt.
The legislative vote, in which the Senate voted 21-13 in favor of authorizing marriage “between any two people” and the 89-57 House vote suggest a plethora of lawmakers willing to put their seats on the line over such a seminal issue.
Maine will not discriminate, and the people of Maine will follow the Constitution and their consciences and fail to overturn this law in November. Anyone want to place a wager on the outcome?
May 26th, 2009 at 8:03 am
[...] 2009, as we reported here, five states have legalized same-sex marriage, both through court rulings and [...]