Portland to perform midnight marriages for gay couples

The city announced Thursday that it will open its municipal offices from 12:01 to 3:01 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29 - the day the state law allowing same-sex marriage takes effect - to issue marriage licenses and perform weddings. The announcement came a day after Augusta said it would open its offices for the same purpose on that Saturday, during more traditional morning hours....

Portland Press Herald • Dec 7, 2012

Same-sex marriage foes raise nearly $950,000

The influx of money brings the total for Protect Marriage Maine, the leading political action committee opposing gay marriage, to $1.4 million. That compares to $4.3 million raised this year by Mainers United for Marriage, the primary group in support of Question 1, which brought in about $964,000 in the period from Oct. 1-23. Mainers United also received $353,353 in in-kind contributions this re...

Portland Press Herald • Oct 29, 2012

Truth Test: Anti-gay marriage ad uses misleading example

The details of the case are right, but the ad relies on suggesting same-sex marriage creates a conflict that already exists under Maine law. The Wildflower Inn suit was an issue of public accommodation. Maine's gay marriage law won't create a legal conflict on the issue that we don't have now. ...

Portland Press Herald • Oct 23, 2012

Maine: Voters poll: 55% back same-sex marriage

A poll released Wednesday shows that 55 percent of Mainers plan to vote in support of same-sex marriage on Nov. 6, and another 1.3 percent are leaning in favor of voting for it, according to Pan Atlantic SMS Group of Portland. The survey of 400 people, conducted Sept. 24-28, indicates that 39 percent are opposed to the ballot measure to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine and 4.5 percent are und...

Portland Press Herald • Oct 11, 2012

Foes of same-sex marriage unite for Maine campaign

The Christian Civic League of Maine and the National Organization for Marriage say they've combined forces to defeat the same-sex marriage referendum proposal on next November's ballot....

Portland Press Herald • Apr 23, 2012

Documentary clips show sad face of Yes on 1

"We use a lot of hyperbole and I think that's always dangerous," says Mutty during a Yes on 1 strategy session, at the time on leave from his job as public affairs director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine. "You know, we say things like 'Teachers will be forced to (teach same-sex marriage in schools)!' " he continues. "Well, that's not a completely accurate statement and we all know it isn...

Portland Press Herald • Apr 19, 2011

Maine: Group appeals ruling allowing release of donor list

A national group that opposes gay marriage is appealing a federal judge's decision to uphold Maine's campaign finance disclosure law that could force it to reveal its list of donors. Lawyers for the National Organization for Marriage filed their notice of appeal with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which already is considering another constitutional challenge of Maine's campaign ...

Portland Press Herald • Mar 6, 2011

Judge rules in Maine gay marriage case

A federal magistrate judge is recommending that information about donors to a group that helped to finance a successful referendum campaign to repeal Maine's gay marriage law last fall be turned over to a state election regulatory board....

Portland Press Herald • May 25, 2010

Maine: 'No' vote would uphold traditional Maine values

Doctors, nurses, school secretaries - even IRS agents - don't get to decide which couples deserve to be considered married. Either they have a license or they don't, and if they do, they get to make medical decisions, pick a child up from school or file a joint tax return without facing any questions about their sexual practices. Basic fairness dictates that same-sex couples should be able to form...

Portland Press Herald • Aug 19, 2009

Equal marriage backers seek pledge of civility

Equal marriage supporters are calling on one of the leaders of a campaign to toss out Maine's equal marriage law to sign a pledge to conduct a civil campaign....

Portland Press Herald • Aug 6, 2009

Maine: Equal-marriage law fuels 'huge' turnout

A large crowd lined Congress Street and the route to Deering Oaks on Saturday for the first Southern Maine Pride Parade since Maine's lawmakers voted to allow gays and lesbians to marry in the state. Although the marriage law is still not in effect and opponents are gathering signatures to try to force a vote on the issue, Maine's decision to join a growing list of states allowing gay people to m...

Portland Press Herald • Jun 21, 2009

No delays expected on same-sex marriage legislation

House Speaker Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she expects that after Tuesday's committee vote, it will take about a week for the legislation to get to the Senate. After that, votes likely would be taken in both chambers by mid-May, she said. Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn the session on June 17. How the bill is handled once it gets to the full Legislature will l...

Portland Press Herald • Apr 25, 2009