D.C. votes to recognize other states' gay marriages.
Lawmakers in Maine voted to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage this afternoon. Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, could veto the bill, The New York Times writes. The Catholic Diocese of Maine and the Maine Family Policy Council, an affiliate of the Family Research Council, will be among the groups lobbying Mr. Baldacci to veto the bill.
Mr. Baldacci opposed same-sex marriage before the bill was introduced this year, but he has since said he is keeping an open mind.
Mr. Baldacci’s spokesman, David Farmer, said he was still mulling his position on the bill and would not make a final decision until after it reached his desk. That could be as soon as tomorrow, when the State Senate is scheduled to formally enact it. Mr. Baldacci will have 10 days to act on the bill once it is delivered to him.
The D.C. Council also voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. The New Hampshire House is expected to take up the bill at tomorrow.
In case you've lost track, Maine would join Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in legalizing same-sex marriage.
Update: Maine Governor John Baldacci signed the bill today legalizing same-sex marriage.
Posted by Sarah Pulliam Bailey on May 5, 2009 4:08PM
Comments
we haven't lost track - well most of us are just not paying attention to it that's all. It may be dear to the heart of you, the dobsons and a couple of others but the rest of the country seems to have moved on
Posted by: Justin at May 5, 2009
Next up: Carrie Prejean goes on TV to scold the state of Maine. "Why, everybody knows gays don't deserve equal rights because marriage is only for heterosexuals because my parents raised me that way."
Posted by: beatrice81 at May 5, 2009
The governor signed the legislation, as he should have. It's a good day in America, as we too slowly move to live up to our highest ideals of citizen equality.
Posted by: Gregory Peterson at May 6, 2009
So sad.
Posted by: alison at May 6, 2009
New England was settled by those seeking freedom. Glad to see we still believe in it. Heterosexual marriage will not suffer and the world will not end, you'll see.
Posted by: Dave at May 6, 2009
One can only hope that the hateful, bigoted remarks of Joe the Plumber in his interview with CT posted earlier this week, which were widely reported and linked to in the blogosphere and on MSNBC, played some small role in encouraging the governor of Maine, who had previously opposed marriage equality, to say "enough is enough" -- this a matter of fundamental fairness and equal protection of the laws, and to change his mind to sign the marriage equality legislation into law.
Or, that the nastiness of the pro-Proposition 8 campaigners in California created a backlash in favor of marriage equality as decent people from Iowa to Vermont to Maine to DC are recognizing that they must stand up against bigotry, because if the forces of bigotry can prevail in liberal, live-and-let-live California, they can prevail anywhwere.
Posted by: Christian Lawyer at May 6, 2009
Sarah,
I did not know how to contact you about your article in CT regarding Joshua DuBuis. Could you tell us straight out if this guy is a born again believer and whether or not he knows and walks with the Lord. Those of us who are conservative Christians would love to know that there is someone near the President's ear who could really give him godly council.
Dr. Howard Brant (Kenya)
Posted by: Howard Brant at May 14, 2009
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