Maine
Maine is currently one of the states in the U.S. to offer some form of protections and responsibilities to same-sex couples and their families through a statewide domestic partnership registry, but state advocates and citizens throughout Maine continue to work for true fairness and equality (pdf) for same-sex couples and their families by ending their exclusion from marriage.
WHERE YOU CAN GO TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE:
EqualityMaine
EqualityMaine works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender people in Maine through political action,
education, and collaboration. They envision a Maine in which lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender persons and their families have full
equality in the hearts and minds of Maine people and in all areas of
the law.
Maine Civil Liberties Union
The Maine Civil Liberties Union is the Maine affiliate of the ACLU,
the nation's largest organization dedicated to defending civil
liberties. The MCLU works for equal protection under the law for all
Mainers, regardless of race, sex, religion, or national origin.
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England's leading
legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on
sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression.
Our Stories: Profiles of Same-Sex Couples in Maine
Read couples’ personal stories and learn more about why full equality is needed for loving couples throughout Maine.
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LEGISLATIVE STATUS IN MAINE:
Your Community—Maine
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
HRC presents resources, news, and the current marriage and
relationship recognition laws in each state.
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PUBLICATIONS:
Geographic Trends Among Same-Sex Couples in the U.S. Census and the
American Community Survey
Williams Institute
November 2007
Gary Gates at the Williams Institute released groundbreaking research
on the geographic trends among same-sex couples. The report finds the
biggest increases in Southern and Mountain states and states barring
legal acceptance of same-sex couples had larger percentage increases
in same-sex couples from 2000 to 2006.
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NEWS:
Just when we thought we were safe, League launches new attack
David B. Offer writes, “Just when we thought the world, or at least Maine, was safe from another bigoted campaign against gay men and women, the League is launching a new referendum effort to repeal every law providing protection to people who have long faced discrimination.”
League fighting gay rights in Maine
The Maine Civil Liberties Union, Equality Maine, and other LGBT organizations are fighting against a broad proposed anti-gay ballot measure in Maine.
Ruling spurs moms to seek legal protection
Morning Sentinel
October 31, 2007
A ruling by the Maine Supreme Court that focuses on adoption as a
source of protection for children of same-sex couples is spurring
couples to adopt. Same-sex couples cannot marry in Maine, which
prevents them from receiving automatic protections for their families.
Marriage equality good for business in New England
The Washington Post
September 16, 2007
Since the freedom to marry came to Massachusetts in 2004, attendance
at Boston's annual Gay Pride Day, a major attraction for visitors, has
more than doubled, according to the Massachusetts tourism bureau. Last
June, attendance exceeded 100,000, compared with 40,000 three years
ago. Although Vermont tourism officials don't tally visitors according
to sexual orientation, several innkeepers report a strong rise in
their gay clientele since civil unions were legalized in 2000.
Next stop: Marriage
The Phoenix
June 6, 2007
"Marriage," Betsy Smith, the executive director of Equality Maine,
says confidently when asked what her group's plan is for the future.
She even offers a timetable: three to five years. "We know civil
unions don't work in a real world, only marriage works in a real
world," says Equality Maine's Darlene Huntress, noting that, like New
Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont, New Hampshire actually started with
a push for marriage.
OPINION: Marriage equality a topic that's here to stay
Bangor Daily News
April 6, 2007
The topic of marriage for gay and lesbian couples is not going
away.... I hope that when it comes to the forefront again, we as
citizens are able to discuss it using well thought out and factually
based reason rather than simply using bumper sticker catch phrases to
justify our actions.
Maine's gay rights law takes effect
Associated Press (Express Gay News)
December 28, 2005
Maine became the last New England State to protect same-sex couples
from discrimination as a law that voters refused to repeal last month
quietly went into effect on Wednesday. 55 percent of Maine voters
rejected a proposal to repeal a legislatively enacted law to outlaw
discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing,
credit, public accomodations and education.
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MULTIMEDIA:
ME marriage video announcement
Equality Maine
February 10, 2007
In "The Way Life Should Be: Marriage in Maine,"
born-and-bred Mainers tell the stories of their lives and
relationships, and why they want to marry in Maine. They discuss
everything from parenting to aging, and how their exclusion from
marriage affects their lives legally, emotionally, and socially.
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In this video,
born-and-bred Mainers tell the stories of their lives and
relationships, and why they want to marry in Maine. They discuss
everything from parenting to aging, and how their exclusion from
marriage affects their lives legally, emotionally, and socially.
