Same-sex marriage in Maine

A bill to allow same-sex marriage in Maine was signed into law on May 6, 2009. Maine is the fifth U.S. state to recognize same-sex marriages, and the second to legislate in favor of marriage equality irrespective of the gender of the participants. The law became effective on September 11, 2009, but its implementation has been delayed pending a potential people's veto in Maine's November elections.

Compared to other New England states

Main article: Same-sex marriage in New England

Rhode Island is the only New England state that limits marriage to couples of the opposite sex, although that state's attorney general has issued a binding legal opinion so that as a matter of law Rhode Island recognizes such marriages if they were issued by Massachusetts or by a jurisdiction with similar marriage provisions. New York, like Rhode Island, does not grant marriage to gay or lesbian couples, but honours such marriages performed in a state or country in which they are valid.

If Maine voters veto the law, Maine would become the only state in New England to limit marriage to opposite sex couples under any circumstance.

Economic impact

A UCLA research study from February 2009 estimates that extending marriage to same-sex couples in Maine, if permitted, would have a positive impact on the state's economy and budget. The study finds that same-sex weddings and associated tourism would generate $60 million in additional spending in Maine over three years, creating 1,000 new jobs. Due to this spending, the state would see an increase of $3.6 million in revenues over the next three years; the result of an increase of sales tax revenues of approximately $3.1 million and new marriage license fees of $500,000. In calculating the net benefit to the state, the study approximates that half of Maine's 4,644 same-sex couples, or 2,316 couples, would marry in the first three years that marriage is extended to them. The study also estimates that approximately 15,657 same-sex couples from other states would come to Maine to marry.

If Maine's same-sex marriage law is upheld, the state may see an influx of young members of the "creative class", which would also provide an economic boost to the economy.

Timeline

• April 22, 2009: Maine state Senator Dennis Damon, along with 60 co-sponsors, introduced a bill titled, "An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom" to allow same-sex couples to marry in Maine. The announcement was made at a public hearing held at the Augusta Civic Center because of high levels of interest. Maine already allows domestic partnerships between same-sex couples. Maine Governor John Baldacci previously opposed allowing same-sex couples to marry, but then said he was keeping an open mind.

• April 28, 2009: the Joint Committee on Judiciary endorsed a same-sex marriage bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry. The vote breakdown was 11 in favor, 2 against, and 1 recommending that the issue be sent to the voters via referendum. The bill then headed to the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives.

• April 30, 2009: the Senate approved the bill 20-15 in a preliminary vote accepting the Judiciary Committee's majority "Ought To Pass" report. That same day, Senators voted 22-13 to reject an amendment that would send the marriage-equality question to voters in a referendum. A senate vote to "engross" the original bill was then taken, and passed by a final vote of 21-14.

• May 5, 2009: the House of Representatives passed the bill 89-58. The bill was then sent back to the Senate for a final vote on enactment.

• May 6, 2009: after the Senate gave a final vote on enactment, Governor Baldacci signed the bill into law. Baldacci became the first governor in the nation to sign a same-sex marriage bill that was not the result of a court decision. Maine became the fifth state in the United States to authorize same-sex marriage. The law shall take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. The adjournment date is currently set for June 17, 2009, but that date is subject to change. If the Legislature does adjourn as scheduled, the law would go into effect on September 14, 2009, unless the law is suspended pending a people's veto referendum.

• May 7, 2009: opponents of the law submitted the required paperwork necessary to launch a people's veto campaign, which would put the issue on a statewide ballot in November 2009 or June 2010. To succeed in putting the question on the ballot, they will have to get at least 55,087 valid signatures within 90 days after the adjournment of the Legislature, which is expected to occur in mid-June. The law would then be put on hold until after the statewide vote. The proponents of the people's veto seek to submit signatures earlier, by the first week of August, in order for there to be enough time to hold the veto referendum in November 2009.

• May 19, 2009: Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap released the official question to be used on the people's veto petition and, if the petition is successful, on the statewide ballot. The question is: "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?" A "Yes" vote would repeal the law; a "No" vote would uphold the law.

• June 18, 2009: Stand For Marriage Maine, the Catholic Church-sponsored group leading the opposition to same-sex marriage in Maine, announced that it has hired Schubert Flint Public Relations to run its opposition campaign. Schubert Flint ran the controversial — and successful — Prop 8 campaign in California. Stand For Marriage Maine has also retained the services of National Petition Management, a professional signature-gathering company.

• July 9, 2009: Stand For Marriage Maine announced that it had collected more than the 55,087 signatures required for the people's veto referendum, and that it will continue to collect more signatures.

• July 30, 2009: Maine Freedom to Marry, the group working to keep same-sex marriage legal in Maine, announced that it had changed its name to No on 1/Protect Maine Equality, in order to emphasize the fact that a "No" vote on the referendum question would uphold the same-sex marriage law. The group also announced that it had collected more than 60,000 pledge cards from Mainers who support same-sex marriage.

External links

• Maine Freedom To Marry (campaign in favor of marriage for same-sex couples and against changing Maine's current marriage statute, supports a No vote on the ballot)
• Stand For Marriage Maine (campaign against marriage for same-sex couples and in favor of changing Maine's current marriage statute, supports a Yes vote on the ballot)