enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Mike Mayo of Thomaston sells buttons Wednesday outside the Augusta Civic Center. “I think equality before the law is an important issue for all people,” he said.

AUGUSTA — Even the parking lot had opinions Wednesday.

A Chevy Sierra pickup, one of hundreds of vehicles outside the Augusta Civic Center, bore a cardboard sign on its tailgate: "Maine Marriage Is for Everyone."

In another row nearby, someone had taped a large white poster board to the rear door of a burgundy Toyota Prius. The slogan read, "Marriage Equality Now."

The thousands who swarmed to the civic center for the Legislature's public hearing on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage used every means at their disposal to get their point of view across.

Supporters and opponents worked the crowds as they flocked to the doors of the arena, collecting signatures on petitions, passing out leaflets, and hawking buttons and T-shirts.

Pastor Jack Willhoite of the Apostolic Church of Augusta stood quietly in a suit, hat and tie, silently greeting throngs with a sign opposing gay marriage.

"I am concerned with the direction of our country and our morality," said Willhoite, who organized a group of about 50 church members to attend the hearing.

"When family deteriorates, the country deteriorates. Students of history should know this."

A few feet from Willhoite was Mike Mayo, a Thomaston resident and member of Midcoast for Civil Marriage. He was doing a brisk business from a folding table just outside the doors of the civic center entrance.

White T-shirts lettered with "marriage equality" were going for $10 each, and buttons with a similar logo for $1 apiece. The proceeds will fund a political action committee in case the Legislature sends the issue to referendum in November, which is likely.

"I think equality before the law is an important issue for all people," said Mayo.

Wednesday's hearing was saturated in red, thanks to Equality Maine, which urged supporters of same-sex marriage to wear red clothing. Many obliged, donning T-shirts, sweatshirts, scarves and hats in every hue of red.

Equality Maine and the Maine Marriage Initiative, a coalition of churches formed to oppose the bill, faced each other across display tables on opposite sides of the civic center lobby.

All the tables were besieged by people who sought ribbons, stickers, brochures and petitions to sign.

Despite strongly held opinions on both sides, relations seemed respectful. That might have been because participants knew they were in for a long day, with scores lining up to testify under rules that limited comments to three minutes per person.

Few would have had a longer day than Ernest Hayes, who said he left his home in Lubec, near the easternmost tip of Washington County, at 3 a.m. so he could attend the hearing.

Hayes, a podiatrist who traveled with his wife, said he didn't plan to testify but wanted to be at the arena to show his opposition to the proposal.

"I'm a Christian, and you don't become righteous by changing the laws to make sin right," he said.

Out in the lobby, Butch Mitchell of Fayette said he is an openly gay man who's treated like a second-class citizen.

"I just think I should have the opportunity for the same rights as any heterosexual person in the state of Maine," Mitchell said.

Julie Westman, a friend from Fairfield who accompanied Mitchell, said she's tired of having to debate civil rights for homosexuals over and over in Maine.

"I thoroughly believe that we have more important things to do," she said.

Staff Writer Dieter Bradbury can be contacted at 791-6329 or at:

dbradbury@pressherald.com