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Maine Same-Sex Marriage Repeal Still Shows Progress

Portland, Maine - November 4, 2009

The voters have spoken. Same-sex couples can't get married in Maine.

On Tuesday voters repealed a state law legalizing gay marriage. 53 percent voted to kill the law while 47 percent were in favor.

The Maine Legislature passed a gay marriage law in May, but it was put on hold by a petition drive calling for a statewide referendum.

Thirty-one states have put the issue of gay marriage to a popular vote and in each state voters said 'no.'

"The good news is: I don't think anyone would have guessed five years ago that 47 percent of Mainers would support the right of same-sex couples to marry. But the bad news is 47 percent's not enough," says Beth Robinson with the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, "so we have more work to do."

Vermont Freedom to Marry invested time and money in Maine to get the word out about the vote.

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