Governor John Baldacci struck a new posture today when he signed into law a bill that will allow same-sex marriage in Maine.
Shortly after the Senate took the Legislature’s final vote on the issue, Baldacci gathered reporters in his office to sign “An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom,” which was sponsored by Sen. Dennis Damon (D-Trenton) and co-sponsored by more than 60 other lawmakers.
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” said Baldacci in a prepared statement. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do.”
Baldacci said he viewed enactment of the bill as adhering to the intent of the Maine Constitution.
“This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs,” Baldacci said. “It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of church and state.”
This bill has moved quickly through the legislative process.
The House of Representatives approved the measure Tuesday after hours of back-and-forth debate, with a final vote of 89-57 in favor of enactment. While the vote was mostly along party lines, there were 12 Democrats who voted against the measure and five Republicans who voted in favor.
The House’s decision followed a 21-14 Senate vote in favor of the bill last Thursday. The Senate enacted the bill today by a vote of 21-13.
Opponents of same-sex marriage have vowed to overturn the bill with a citizen’s veto, which requires the gathering of 55,087 signatures of Maine voters. The question would then be put to voters in a statewide referendum.
“While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right,” Baldacci said.
