Maine voters overturn gay marriage

November 4, 2:02 PMWhite House ExaminerWamara Mwine

On Tuesday, Maine voters defeated a law that allowed same sex marriage in the state. President Obama had spoken in support of gay rights in October, but that seems to have not changed the tide for voters in Maine.

The ‘Yes on 1” campaign successfully drew out voters who did not support gay marriage in Maine. In a prepared a statement on their website the campaign stated:  “Maine’s long-standing statute defines marriage as being the union of one man and one woman joined in traditional monogamous marriage and an institution of inestimable value to society. Current law says that Maine has a compelling interest to nurture and promote the unique institution of traditional monogamous marriage in the support of harmonious families and the physical and mental health of children and that the State has the compelling interest in promoting the moral values inherent in traditional monogamous marriage.”

A Reuters News report on Maine's voting results says, “Voters in Maine on Tuesday overturned a law allowing same-sex couples to wed, dealing a fresh setback to the U.S. gay marriage movement in a race that attracted national attention…The law was approved by Maine's Legislature in May but was not implemented after opponents gathered enough signatures to put the issue to a "people's veto.”

Meanwhile, gay rights groups, like the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), responded to the results in Maine calling the ruling, “unfair and, frankly, un-American.” The president of GLAAD Jarrett Barrios said, “A slim majority wrested away the basic protections of marriage from couples and their families. Opponents campaigned on fear and misinformation leaving those loving and committed gay and lesbian couples- and our allies- back to square one: forced to leave lives without the needed protection that marriage affords.”

For more info:

Maine voters latest to turn down gay marriage | Politics | Reuters

Statement by GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios Election Results -- The Vital Voice

Amid protests, Obama appeases gay community -- White House National Examiner

Maine voters latest to turn down gay marriage | Politics | Reuters