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Maine Voters to Decide Gay Marriage
October 29, 2009 - 12:10 PM | by: Molly LineMaine is the latest battle ground state facing gay marriage at the polls.
Voters there could be the first-in-the-nation to grant same-sex couples the right to marry via public ballot or join dozens of other states that have done the opposite.
The race is too close to call. Recent polls show voters are equally divided.
The referendum, over whether to repeal Maine's recently passed law legalizing gay marriage, is called Question 1. It represents the opportunity for a landmark victory for proponents of gay marriage and a landmark defeat for those that oppose.
"Thirty states have voted on this issue and have maintained traditional marriage," said Marc Mutty, the Campaign Chair for Stand for Marriage Maine, the political action committee that gathered signatures to get the repeal placed on the ballot. Mutty is urging people to "Vote Yes on 1" to repeal the new law legalizing gay marriage. He believes the Maine battle is a particularly significant to both sides.
"It's important to them to break that cycle and it's important to us to maintain our record," said Mutty.
In recent years, however, the legal landscape has changed dramatically. The surrounding New England states, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire, have legalized gay marriage. Massachusetts was the first to do so in 2004.
"I think that there have been some attitudes that have shifted here in our state over the past several years," said Jesse Connolly, campaign manager for "No on 1"- Protect Maine Equality, the political action committee dedicated to upholding Maine's new same-sex marriage law.
Question 1 mirrors the contentious battle that embroiled activists during California's contentious Proposition 8 fight. The airwaves are blanketed with ads, money is pouring in from out-of-state sources trying to influence the outcome.
Proponents of gay marriage have brought in more than 4 million dollars, half from out-of-state supporters. Opponents say they've raised nearly 2.5 million, including hundreds of thousands from the Catholic Church.
Political Science Professor Mark Brewer of the University of Maine says both sides have a lot riding on Question 1.
"Yes, we've had courts create the right of same-sex marriage. We've had legislatures create that, we've had governor's sign off on it but, this really is an opportunity for the people to ratify that," said Brewer.
"Opponents of same-sex marriage seemingly had the upper hand- the tide seems to have turned against them over the last 12 to 18 months and in some ways this could be a chance for them to stop the bleeding a little bit and to try and gain some ground back."
At Becky's Diner on Portland's picturesque waterfront voters share their thoughts over eggs and hash.
"I feel everyone is entitled to their dignity and equal rights." Carolyn Vetro said, holding a steaming cup of coffee. She's already voted "No on Question 1"- to uphold the new marriage law- via absentee ballot.
Just a few booths away Betty Amoroso says she's voting "Yes"- to repeal the new law.
"I'm Catholic," she explains. "One man and one woman is the way it should be."
With a race this tight, organizers on both sides know the outcome rests on voter turn out.
"We think this is going to be a razor thin election. We think this will be decided by a few hundred votes on either side," said Connolly.
"Ultimately, in a race like this, the decisive factor is who comes out to the polls," said Mutty.
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