VIDEO: The State House, May 6


Read the stories
Strong feelings persist after marriage vote
Residents of the state say the yearlong debate and vote changed Maine, for better or worse.
[November 8, 2009]

Repeal of marriage law brings relief and sadness
Leaders on both sides of the battle see benefits from having waged the referendum campaign.
[November 5, 2009]

Experts: Same-sex marriage not dead
Maine is headed toward adoption, they say, since younger voters in support will replace aging foes.
[November 5, 2009]

Mapping the gay-marriage vote finds a broad desire for repeal
Analysis: It wasn't rural-vs.-urban or by political persuasion, but the churches played a role.
[November 5, 2009]

Fight goes on over marriage
While Yes on 1 organizers say it would be �a real mistake� to revisit the idea again soon, same-sex marriage advocates vow: �We will win this issue.�
[November 5, 2009]

'No on 1' backers rally at churches around state
Meanwhile, an official with a Catholic parish in Augusta says 'Yes on 1' signs keep being taken.
[November 2, 2009]

NPR drops claim against Stand for Marriage Maine
Challenging a political ad comes too late to be of use in the Question 1 vote on Nov. 3, officials say.
[October 31, 2009]

Bay State practices not driven by gay-marriage law
Election 2009: Whether Massachusetts schools address gay marriage reflects local morals.
[October 30, 2009]

Judge: State can press for disclosure of donors
The attorney general now challenges the Yes on 1 group to open its records.
[October 29, 2009]

Debate pits tradition vs. equality
Some see a 'radical redefinition of marriage'; for others, all 'deserve equal protection under Maine laws.'
[October 29, 2009]

Even leaders aren't betting on poll figures
The No on 1 campaign says it's anticipating a 'pretty close election' despite new data showing it has an 11-point lead.
[October 27, 2009]

Campaign disclosure ruling imminent
A judge will rule Wednesday on whether two groups that oppose gay marriage must reveal their contributors.
[October 27, 2009]

Nokomis school employees land in the spotlight with ads on Question 1
Officials defend the right to appear in political ads, but there's controversy nonetheless.
[October 26, 2009]

Debate over gay marriage takes cues from California
Many of the same players from the fight over last year's Proposition 8 are involved in Maine's effort.
[October 25, 2009]

No on 1 still collecting more funds than effort to repeal marriage law
The Portland diocese gives another $152,600 to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC.
[October 24, 2009]

[October 22, 2009]

Gay-marriage foes decry copyright complaint
Stand for Marriage Maine's use of radio content in a TV ad represents 'fair use,' the PAC's lawyers say.
[October 22, 2009]

NPR seeks removal of content in Yes-on-1 ads
The station says it doesn’t allow its news material to be used by political advocacy groups.
[October 21, 2009]

[October 21, 2009]

Same-sex marriage foes slam AG Mills
Her finding that the law would have no bearing on schools is a 'shameless political ploy,' says Marc Mutty of Yes on 1.
[October 17, 2009]

AG says marriage law not a school issue
Janet Mills says she could find no reference in Maine law regarding marriage in the public school curriculum.
[October 16, 2009]

N.H. bishop speaks against Question 1
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson says people need to rescue the Bible from the religious right.
[October 16, 2009]

No on 1 campaign has an edge in new poll
But both sides of the same-sex marriage issue say it will come down to who gets out the vote.
[October 15, 2009]

Marriage law backers raise $2.7 million
The PAC figure is more than twice what opponents of the same-sex marriage law have raised.
[October 14, 2009]

Gay marriage: 'It's all about the kids,' says practical pair
They don't want a fancy wedding, just legal rights and protections.
[October 13, 2009]

Gay marriage: Christian couple oppose using word 'marriage'
They say they wouldn't object to legal protections or civil unions for gays.
[October 13, 2009]

Gay marriage: 'Wed' for years, still waiting for acceptance
A Maine couple hopes for an equitable level of legal and social recognition.
[October 12, 2009]

Gay marriage: Maine's repeal effort gets new public face
Bob Emrich replaces Michael Heath after disputes over strategy.
[October 12, 2009]

Both sides weigh meaning of Maine's marriage vote
For the first time, voters will be deciding whether to preserve gay marriage rather than banning it.
[October 11, 2009]

New Hampshire legalizes gay marriage
Gov. John Lynch - who opposes same-sex unions - signs the bill after lawmakers agree to religious exemptions.
[June 4, 2009]

Language finalized for same-sex marriage veto
Both sides of the gay marriage issue agree the wording of the people's veto question is clear.
[May 20, 2009]

Petitions to bar gay marriage piling up
Three groups are now seeking a referendum to overturn the new Maine law, including some neighbors from Eliot.
[May 15, 2009]

Politics takes personal turn for Bliss
The state senator, who didn't want to be known as the 'gay legislator,' is a key player in the same-sex marriage debate.
[May 10, 2009]

Same-sex weddings may be blissful for state economy
Maine's law won't take effect until mid-September, if at all, but couples and businesses are making plans.
[May 9, 2009]

U.S. laws blunt gains for Maine gay couples
Those who marry would get hundreds of state benefits, but federal limits remain.
[May 8, 2009]

[May 8, 2009]

Maine legalizes same-sex marriage
Gov. John Baldacci reverses course and signs the bill; opponents promise a people's veto campaign to put the law to a statewide vote.
[May 7, 2009]

'We have come so far'
Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrate its approval by lawmakers and the governor.
[May 7, 2009]

[May 7, 2009]

[May 7, 2009]

[May 6, 2009]

Maine House to take up gay marriage bill
Prospects for the bill appear favorable, but the final decision may rest with a referendum vote.
[May 5, 2009]

Vote signals Legislature likely to OK gay marriage
State House: The bill passes its first test in the Senate and eventually may go to the governor, but will he sign it?
[May 1, 2009]

Gay marriage bill on agenda today
State House: The Senate could debate, vote on or table the controversial measure with no action.
[April 30, 2009]














RESOURCES

Complete information on the passage of LD 1020

Gov. John Baldacci's remarks on signing LD 1020 into law.

Organizations supporting a people's veto

Maine Family Policy Council

Maine Marriage Alliance

Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland

Organizations in favor of LD 1020

Equality Maine

Freedom to Marry

Maine Civil Liberties Union


TIMELINE

1996

  • The U.S. Congress passes and President Bill Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act which outlaws gay marriage.

    • 1997

  • The Maine State Legislature passes its own Defense of Marriage bill. It becomes law without the signature of Gov. Angus King and is codified in Title 19A, Section 701 of Maine's Revised Statutes:
    Same sex marriage prohibited. Persons of the same sex may not contract marriage.

    • 2001

  • The Maine State Employee Health Commission rules that same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners of Maine state government employees are eligible to receive publicly funded health-insurance benefits starting July 1.

  • Portland City Council votes 9-0 to recognize gay and unmarried heterosexual couples as families and requires agencies that get money from the city to recognize them as families, too.

  • Passed by the legislature, a bill is signed into law mandating that health insurance carriers which offer coverage for spouses of health plan members to offer similar coverage for domestic partners.

  • Portland City Council refuses to exempt non-profits with religious affiliations from offering domestic-partner benefits.

    • 2004

  • A Yarmouth same-sex couple applies for a marriage license in Massachusetts but is rejected when Gov. Mitt Romney enforces his ban on out-of-state same-sex marriages.

  • A law passed by the Maine State Legislature allows unmarried gay, lesbian and heterosexual couples to sign up for the state's domestic-partner registry. The law gives gay couples the same inheritance rights as married partners and extends next-of-kin status to domestic partners in inheritance rights, guardianship and conservators.

    • 2005

  • A bill to authorize a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage is rejected by both houses of the legislature.

  • Baldacci signs a bill into law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, schools, housing and other areas. Opponents vow to overturn the law, saying in part that it paves the way to gay marriage in the state. Voters endorse the law in November.

    • 2008

  • The Christian Civic League of Maine proposes a referendum that would roll back the state's gay rights law and ban civil unions. The League later halts the repeal effort.

    • 2009

  • LD 1020 is introduced by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, to define a marriage as a union of two people, rather than a man and a woman.

  • On April 30, the State Senate votes 21-14 to approve the same-sex marriage bill.

  • By a vote of 89-57 the House passes the bill on May 5 and sends it back to the Senate.

  • On May 6 the Senate passes (21-13) the final version of the billand sends it to Gov. John Baldacci. The governor signs the bill into law immediately, making Maine the fifth state to legalize same-sex marriage.

  • May 7: The Rev. Bob Emrich, a founder of the Maine Marriage Alliance, files paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office to launch a people's veto.

  • By early September opponents to the law must submit 55,807 signatures to the Secretary of State to ask voters in November to repeal the law.

    •