Same-Sex "Marriage" Legalized in Maine

Story

Same-Sex "Marriage" Legalized in Maine

Special Report - May 6, 2009
Today, in a victory for homosexual activists seeking to redefine the nature of marriage and family, Maine became the fifth state in the nation to legalize same-sex “marriage.” Governor John Baldacci (D-Maine) signed the bill legalizing same-sex unions into law, shortly after the State Senate voted 21 to 14 in favor of the bill. The state’s House approved the legislation a day earlier on May 5 by a vote of 89 to 57. With Governor Baldacci’s signature, Maine joined four other states that currently allow homosexual couples to legally marry—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont (law takes effect September 1, 2009).

“Just one year ago, a single state allowed same-sex couples to marry,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest homosexual advocacy group. “Now, with the historic step taken by Gov. Baldacci and the Maine legislature, five states will provide equal dignity, equal respect, and equal rights under state law for same-sex couples by recognizing their freedom to marry, and we hope more will follow soon.”

In another victory for same-sex “marriage” supporters, the Washington D.C. Council voted 13 to 0 on May 5 to recognize same-sex “marriages” from other states where the practice is legal. The measure must still be signed by the D.C. mayor, and then approved by Congress after a 30-day review period. Lawmakers in New Hampshire and New York are also currently considering legislation that would legalize same-sex “marriage” in those two states.

The increasing number of states that legally recognize same-sex “marriage” leave North Carolina’s marriage laws more vulnerable than ever to being challenged in court. Because North Carolina does not have a Marriage Protection Amendment in place, our marriage statutes are at increasing risk of being overturned by the courts, should a same-sex couple from our state get “married” in one the five states were it is now legal, return home and then sue for recognition in our state. HB 361 and SB 272, both entitled “Defense of Marriage Act,” would give North Carolinians the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment that states: “Marriage between a man and woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.” Both bills have been referred to committees, where they await action.

“The leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly now has one more reason to stop impeding a fair vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment in North Carolina,” said Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council. “With same-sex ‘marriage’ now official in five states, and lawmakers in two other states considering similar bills, our lawmakers need to act quickly and allow an up or down vote on the ‘Defense of Marriage’ legislation that has been introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly. It is time for the leadership of the General Assembly to give the people of this state the opportunity to protect marriage in our State from being redefined by either the courts or the legislature.”