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04/29/2009
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
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from the Morning Sentinel
AUGUSTA -- The Legislature's Judiciary Committee voted 11-2-1 Tuesday in support of a bill to allow gay marriage in Maine, setting the stage for full legislative debate.
The bill now goes forward to the Senate with 11 committee members in support, two opposed and one who wants to send the issue out to voters.
People on both sides of the debate packed the committee room and spilled into two overflow rooms as legislators deliberated the bill.
Committee Chairman Sen. Lawrence Bliss, D-South Portland, said the issue has been especially difficult for him.
"It comes as no surprise to any of you that I'm a gay man and this is extremely personal to me," he said. "I've worked hard to set that personal piece aside, because it is about fairness."
For the two legislators who voted in opposition, their constituents and their own hearts led to a "no" vote.
Rep. Jarrod Crockett, R-Bethel, said he doesn't believe the state should sanction gay marriage. "I may be in the minority, but that's where my conscience leads me," he said.
Rep. Joan Nass, R-Acton, said 90 percent of the mail she received urged her to vote against the bill.
After the vote, supporters and opponents said the time for real action has just begun as the bill now makes its way to the full Legislature.
Bob Talbot, of the NAACP of Bangor, said the show of support brought a tear to his eye.
"Never have I been prouder of my legislators," he said. "They stood up for civil rights."
Marc Mutty, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said he had anticipated four votes in opposition; but he said history shows that committee votes don't always hold up when the bill goes to the House and Senate.
Last week, more than 3,000 people came to the Augusta Civic Center for a 10-hour public hearing on the bill. While the crowd on Tuesday was smaller, those at the work session made it clear where they stood on the issue, with supporters wearing red and opponents wearing "one man, one woman" buttons.
The work session was interrupted briefly when Elaine Graham, of Farmington, began yelling at legislators when it became apparent a majority would support the bill.
"This is a hugely moral issue and you people are not moral leaders," she shouted.
Capitol Security escorted her from the Statehouse, but she will not face charges, according to the officers.
In addition to those in support and in opposition, committee member Sen. David Hastings, R-Fryeburg, is putting forward an amendment that would send the question to voters in November.
"My district is divided," he said. "The state is divided. I see it as a sincere disagreement."
Hastings said if the Legislature passes the bill, opponents probably will gather the 55,087 signatures necessary for a people's veto, so it will end up before voters either way. He also said the wording of people's vetoes can be confusing, because they ask the public to overturn legislative action.
"Why not just put it out as a straightforward, simple statement?" he said.
Supporters of the bill want legislators to take an up-or-down vote.
Betsy Smith of EqualityMaine said that, overall, she was happy with the committee action.
"All along, we were hoping the Judiciary Committee members would study this issue in depth, read the testimony and hear the discrimination that gay and lesbian families experience every day," she said. "The vote today confirmed to us they did exactly that."
Susan Cover -- 620-7015
scover@centralmaine.com
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