Sides square off on Maine gay marriage legislation

[davidinalameda]

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090315-NEWS-903150340

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.

At the center of attention is a bill sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton, that seeks to change the Maine statutes that govern civil marriage rights to allow marriage licenses to be issued to "any two persons ... regardless of the sex of such person."

Although announced in mid-January, the bill has just been printed and Damon is now gathering co-sponsors in advance of it being assigned to a Senate committee.

[fight4my3sons]

1. here is a related article from my local paper...

http://knox.villagesoup.com/Government/story.cfm?StoryID=150341

[rox63]

2. As a local, how do you think the vote will go?

I thought Maine was a tad too conservative to back same-sex marriage this soon. But I hope I'm wrong.

[fight4my3sons]

3. I'm a New York native still getting used to it here.

We moved up here during the whole '05 battle. Michael Heath and his crowd were awful. I am hopeful for more support this year than in previous years. I live in the 1st congressional district which is more liberal. I don't know anyone who does not support equal rights, but that isn't saying much because I don't know a lot of people around here. Of course you see the differing opinions in the papers, but I haven't heard people talking about it at my kids' activities or other social functions. I'm not sure if that was very helpful.

[rox63]

4. Is the 1st District in the southern part of the state?

I'm in Massachusetts, so I'm not familiar with the districts in Maine. I used to visit some friends in Kittery and York a few years back, but haven't been up there in a couple of years.

[fight4my3sons]

5. Pretty much

Southern/coastal I'm in the Camden/Rockport area (moved here last summer from the Bath/Brunswick area).