by Michael Foust, posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 (14 years ago)
AUGUSTA, Maine (BP)--Supporters of traditional marriage in Maine shocked the political world and even some of their own supporters Nov. 3, overcoming a slew of obstacles to overturn a new law that had legalized "gay marriage."
‘The issue of redefining marriage does not just affect same-sex couples, but it will have ongoing effects and consequences that will impact every single family within our society.’--Pastor Joey Marshall, Standish, Maine By passing Question 1, 53-47 percent, Mainers rejected the law signed by Democratic Gov. John Baldacci in May and became the first state ever to reverse a legislatively enacted "gay marriage" statute. It was the first time a state in the Northeast had considered the issue.
The law had yet to go into effect but would have done so, immediately, if Question 1 had lost. In fact, local officials already had new marriage licenses in hand that removed the terms "bride" and "groom."
It was another major setback for homosexual activists, who have never won at the ballot box on "gay marriage" and vowed not to allow what happened in California last year happen in Maine. They had numerous advantages, led by a fundraising edge of $4 million to $2.5 million. They had a ground game and phone bank system whose organization far surpassed what they had in California, and they also had the support of the state's leading politicians and newspapers. They led in four of the final six pre-election polls, including an 11-point edge in one late-October survey. Read More
