Maine Gay Marriage Hearing Mobbed

Could all of New England allow same-sex marriage by 2012? As many as 4,000 people attended a rally today in Maine featuring speakers on both of sides of the debate. State Senator Dennis Damon, a sponsor of the state’s gay marriage bill along with 60 others, was greeted with a standing ovation, and thunderous applause rang out for the men and women who presented their perspectives. Not surprisingly, religion was a common topic: One Baptist reverend exhorted the people of Maine to “not make the decision of not voting on it...as a lame way of getting out of your responsibilities.” An alliance of 120 clergy offered their rebuttal, saying: “Jesus led a life of doing justice. We are called to do the same.”