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Frequently Asked Questions

Why Marriage in Maine Now?

Marriage is a lifelong partnership between two people, whether those two people are gay or straight. All loving, committed couples deserve the dignity and respect that marriage brings, as well as all the legal rights and obligations that marriage brings. Read more...

Isn't this kind of a niche issue? How many people are really affected by it?

This issue affects thousands of gay and lesbian couples and their families throughout Maine. Like other Maine families, LGBT Mainers take on each other's burdens and cares. They work and pay taxes. Read more...

What do you mean when you say that people suffer because they can

Couples who cannot marry are harmed in many ways. For example, in Maine only married couples: Read more...

How will this new law better protect lesbian and gay families in Maine?

Gay and lesbian couples seek the same benefits and responsibilities that heterosexual married couples take for granted Read more...

How will this law improve the lives of children?

Children of lesbian and gay couples are disadvantaged when their parents are denied the legal protections of marriage, in lots of ways Read more...

Can't gay and lesbian couples get the same protections without marriage? Why are civil unions not enough?

Some people want to say to lesbian and gay families, We'll give you the protections of marriage, but let's call it something else. The problem is, if you call it something else, it is something else. Read more...

Does this new law protect religious freedom?

It's important to recognize that lots of faith communities want to have the freedom to PERFORM marriages for gay and lesbian couples. So Maines new marriage law actually will provide a religious freedom that churches and synagogues and other religious communities do not currently have. Read more...

Will marriage in Maine give lesbian and gay couples access to federal marriage benefits?

Unfortunately, no, not at this point. Read more...

Shouldn't children be raised by a mom and a dad?

Children can and do thrive in many kinds of families. More importantly, scientific consensus is that children raised by gay and lesbian parents do not differ in any important respects from those raised by heterosexual parents. Read more...

My church does not support same-sex marriage. I am concerned that the same sex marriage law will threaten religious freedom.

Maines same-sex marriage law explicitly affirms religious freedom and guarantees that no church will be required to recognize or perform same-sex marriages. While the state of Maine has authority to determine which couples can receive a civil marriage license, churches will continue to be free to define marriage according to their own beliefs. Read more...

I understand why same-sex couples need legal protections, but why do you have to call it "marriage"

Some people support giving legal protections to same-sex couples, but want to call it something else. The problem is that if you call it something else, it is something else. Only marriage tells the wider community that two people are committed to each other and are a family. Same-sex couples need this as much as opposite-sex couples do. Read more...