AUGUSTA -- Thousands of Maine residents who support marriage for gay and lesbian couples turned out to participate in a legislative hearing held today at the Augusta Civic Center. Clad in red shirts, ties, jackets, and scarves, supporters drove from every corner of the state to testify in support of the marriage bill, LD 1020.

Betsy Smith, Executive Director of EqualityMaine, said, It is incredible to look out into the audience and see a sea of red. Thousands of working people took the day off to drive to Augusta because this legislation matters so much to their families, to their children.

The Judiciary Committee heard testimony from dozens of gay and lesbian families who described the many harms they experience because they cannot marry.

In her testimony, Smith said, Some people respond to these families by saying, Well give you the protections of marriage, but lets call it something else. The problem is, if we call it something else, it is something else.

Among the thousands attending the hearing were nearly 100 members of the clergy. The Rev. Mark Worth, testifying on behalf of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine, said: We are here to bear witness that many religious leaders and religious communities honor and bless the love between same-sex partners. But your job today is not to settle ecclesiastical disputes, but rather to ensure justice and fairness for all Maine citizens without favor and without prejudice.

Smith echoed the Rev. Worths call to legislators: Maines Legislature has a long history of supporting fairness and equality for its citizens. We are asking you to take the next step. End discrimination against gay and lesbian families in this state.

EqualityMaine has been working in partnership with the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition to pass the marriage bill, LD 1020. The Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition represents over 30 organizations.