A narrow majority of voters in Maine
supports giving gay and lesbian couples the right to marry, a new
poll has found.
According to a Public
Policy Polling survey released last week, 51 percent of Mainers
believe gay marriage should be legal. Forty-two percent said the
institution should remain a union between a man and a woman, while 8
percent refused to answer.
When other forms of legal recognition
were added, a large majority (82%) said gay couples should be legally
recognized with either full marriage (46%) or civil unions (36%).
Only 17 percent of respondents said there should be no legal
recognition of a gay couple's relationship.
And more voters favor a gay marriage
law that respects the right of churches to not perform the ceremonies
48 to 35 percent.
The poll belies a 2009 referendum that
repealed 53-47 a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers. It is also
good news for gay marriage activists in the state who are working to
put the issue up for a vote next year.
(Related: Gay
marriage campaign in Maine gathers 40,000 signatures in 6 weeks.)