TAKE ACTION 

Marriage advocates in Maine submitted signatures to the Secretary of State to proactively pursue marriage at the ballot in November 2012. If successful, Maine would be the first state to proactively pass the freedom to marry through a ballot measure. 

Here’s how you can help:

Make a donation to Freedom to Marry’s Win More States Fund today. Every single penny donated to the Win More States Fund will go directly into the work of winning in Maine and other key states.

HISTORY

In 2009, Maine State Legislature passed a freedom to marry bill that was signed into law by Governor John Baldacci. Anti-gay groups immediately began collecting signatures to repeal the bill at the ballot. After months of an intensive campaign, the voters of Maine repealed the freedom to marry by a 53% to 47% margin.

Since the loss in 2009, advocates including Equality Maine, Freedom to Marry and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders have worked to increase support for marriage in Maine through public education campaigns and conversations with voters across the state. The work is paying off with public support growing from 47% to 54%.

Advocates are now working to proactively pass the freedom to marry through a ballot measure.

Status: Some Protections for Couples, Anti-Marriage Law

Groups Actively Working on Marriage

Equality Maine: the primary statewide organization working to win the freedom to marry for same-sex couples

Freedom to Marry: is the campaign to win marriage for same-sex couples nationwide. 

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders: New England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression

Why Marriage Matters Maine: Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and EqualityMaine partnered to create this website to share the personal stories of real Mainers and demonstrate what marriage means to them.