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Maine House passes gay marriage bill
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BY SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 05/06/2009

AUGUSTA -- The Maine House of Representatives voted 89-57 Tuesday in support of gay marriage, a vote described as historic by some and difficult by others.

"Our vote today will go down in Maine history," said Rep. Patsy Crockett, D-Augusta, who supported the bill. "This is an issue whose time has come."

The Senate is expected to take a final vote on the bill today.

Then it will go to Gov. John Baldacci. He has not yet taken a position on the bill.

"When it gets to his desk, he'll make his decision," said David Farmer, his deputy chief of staff.

If the bill becomes law, opponents say they will be ready to gather the signatures necessary for a people's veto.

The House spent nearly three hours Tuesday debating the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon, D-Trenton.

The bill changes the definition of marriage to be the legally recognized union of two people, and it allows any two people, regardless of sex, to apply for a marriage license.

Also, it affirms that religious institutions will maintain control over who may marry within their faith and recognizes the validity of marriages performed in other states. Gay couples from out of state would also be able to come to Maine to get married.

One of the most powerful speeches on the House floor came from Rep. Sheryl Briggs, D-Mexico, whose daughter is lesbian.

Briggs said she struggled with the bill -- calling it "the most difficult decision" she's ever had to make -- but ultimately could not support it.

"The deepest part of my soul tells me this is wrong," she said.

Another opponent, Assistant House Minority Leader Phil Curtis, R-Madison, said he worries how the bill will affect parenting, education and religious liberty.

"L.D. 1020, as printed, proposes a radical redefinition of marriage as we have known it to be for all of history," he said.

Many shared personal stories of their own sexuality, their own religion and their own difficulty making a decision on the bill.

Rep. Patrick Flood, R-Winthrop, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said he had not taken a position on the bill leading up to the vote.

"I would much rather work on ten $569 million budget shortfalls than to make one decision on gay marriage," he said.

Saying he hasn't slept well in recent weeks, Flood said he knew his decision to support the bill would mean coming home to phone messages from those who disagreed with him.

"The more we can do to celebrate our differences, the stronger this state and country will become," he said.

The Senate voted 21-14 in favor of the bill last week.

As in the Senate, the House rejected an amendment that would have sent the bill directly to voters for a referendum.

"Once again, just as with school consolidation, we are trampling on the democracy of our fellow Mainers," said Rep. Michael Celli, R-Brewer.

Bob Emrich, who leads a coalition of groups that oppose the measure, said they are poised to gather the 55,087 signatures necessary for a people's veto if the bill becomes law.

He said the House vote was not a surprise, but that he's holding out hope Baldacci will veto it.

"The governor will recognize there are some real individual religious consciousness issues with the bill," he said.

Supporters said they picked up more votes in the House than anticipated and that they, too, are gearing up for a public vote.

"We see the referendum as an opportunity," said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. "Maine may well be the antidote to California."

Last fall, California voters approved a gay-marriage ban.

Yet other states in recent months have opened the door to gay marriage, including a court decision in Iowa and legislative action in Vermont. Connecticut and Massachusetts also allow gay couples to marry.

Rep. Michael Carey, D-Lewiston, said he is not gay and none of his immediate family members are gay. But he said he believes in freedom.

"I believe all men are created equal, not just straight men," he said.

Susan Cover -- 620-7015

scover@centralmaine.com

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