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Why Marriage

Marriage equality honors the commitment that thousands of loving same-sex couples in Maine have made to each other, often for decades.

Without marriage equality loving, committed same-sex couples are not recognized as a legal pair. They cannot file taxes jointly, do not have access to health insurance as a family and are not allowed to inherit property at the time of death without the hardship of crushing taxes.  Their children are not entitled to all of the rights and protections conferred automatically on a family headed by a married couple.

Separate is not equal and everyone, including gay and lesbian couples, should be treated equally under the law. Marriage equality reflects traditional Maine values of fairness and equality.

Children

Marriage equality protects children. It guarantees the children of same-sex couples all of the rights and protections that marriage grants automatically to a married couple's children.

Marriage equality recognizes that it is a person's or couple's parenting skills and the love one has for one's children that makes a good parent.

People of Faith

Maine's marriage equality law respects and protects the rights of people of faith. It explicitly ensures that no one empowered to perform marriages will be required to marry any couple, including same sex couples, contrary to their conscience or their religious beliefs.  Nonetheless, marriage equality is supported by many leaders and people of faith and some have long chosen to recognize the love and commitment of same-sex couples.