Maine Gay Marriage Bill Gets Standing Ovation

AUGUSTA, Maine — A public hearing on allowing gay marriage in Maine has opened with a standing ovation for the bill's sponsor.

Sen. Dennis Damon received a roar of approval at a crowded hearing Wednesday when he said the time has come to recognize same-sex marriages.

He says his proposal "recognizes the worth of every man and woman among us." It is backed by 60 co-sponsors.

Gay rights activists have set a goal of establishing same-sex marriage in all six New England states by 2012. They're already halfway there.

The bill's prospects are uncertain in Maine. Gov. John Baldacci previously opposed the bill but now says he's keeping an open mind.

Comments

[Isis N]

Yay Maine!

[ramal]

Hopefully when Gay marriage finally comes to the Deep South around 2030 people will be shouting, "Remember the Maine!"

[carsntrucks]

Gotta love Maine for being brave enough to invent rights out of whole cloth.

[StevenKeirstead]

Go Maine! My husband and I are having a house built there for summer vacations and retirement. Yes we are stimulating the local economy there in Hancock county. Maybe the state will actually consider us married there too very soon. I'm encouraged to think it might be so before we retire.

[rmax53]

The arguments against gay marriage are being seen by more people as illogical and plainly discriminatory. Since we are nominally a secular nation, reviling gay marriage as an affront to "holy matrimony" makes little sense, since it is civil marriage that's under consideration (and the laws exempt churches from having to perform gay marriages). The fall-back argument "It's for the children's sake that we must preserve traditional marriage" also doesn't hold much water (unless we make marriage illegal between non-reproductive heterosexuals).

I live in NH and have a civil union with my partner of 30 years, and I'm looking forward to the day when we can call ourselves married instead of civilly united (that just doesn't trip off the tongue very easily).

[nirek]

In Vermont we lead the way, and I know Maine is just as good a State as Vermont , good people here and there!

On another note, Please all of you folks fill out the bio on your profile page. It isn't hard and really is interesting to learn a little about fellow posters.
Thanks
Nirek

[Aesthete]

Iowa led the way.

[saturnine maniac]

Actually, I'm pretty sure it was Massachussetts.

[CJ1]

Vermont was the first for civil unions. Mass first for marriage.

[MenaC]

3 cheers for Maine! As a Southern lesbian who finds confrontation beyond difficult, I'd like to thank those of you who spoke UP for those of us who can't. THANK YOU.

[brandnewstuff]

I do not see this every happening in Texas-
though I am happy for the States that are progressive
The most important- If your loved one is struck ill- Having Equal Rights Matter!

[jones]

Hopefully cannabis laws will change in a more tolerant and intelligent direction in the very near future as well.

Good move Maine.

[thundermummy]

What happens in Kennebunkport stays in Kennebunkport. ;)

[JohnBisceglia]

Is government FINALLY realizing that it CANNOT tax us without treating our families and children as EQUAL? I mean, they can TRY, but believe you me - some of us have HAD IT, and will fight back.

[rikkirighteous]

Kind of like The Emperor's New Clothes. If enough people believe the fairy tale, does that make it true?

It took the common sense of a child to enlighten the lemmings. What will it take here?

[1logicalthinker]

"As Maine goes, so goes the nation" is a phrase that at one time was in wide currency in United States politics. (From Wikipedia)

[MizLiz]

Politicians can tell which way the wind is blowing.....I predict many more states are going to follow Iowa. And about time, too.

[PhilipB]

About time ,too!

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

BRAVO Maine!

NY, NJ, NH pay attention

[unhhockey]

New Hampshire is coming along.