Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree
told colleagues on Thursday that she supports an effort to win gay
marriage in her home state.
Gay marriage supporters announced last
month that they would return the issue to the ballot in November.
Maine lawmakers approved a gay marriage
law in 2009. However, opponents narrowly (53%) repealed it with a
“people's veto” at the ballot box, known as Question 1.
Pingree noted the campaign in remarks
on the House floor.
“They share homes and they raise
children together, they remain committed to each other through the
ups and downs of life,” Pingree said. “But because they are
same-sex couples, they are denied the right to honor their love and
commitment to each other through marriage.”
“This fall, Maine will have a chance
to change that, and to join a growing list of states around the
country that are setting aside discrimination and granting all
couples the same right to get married. We've made progress here in
Congress on ending discriminatory practices like 'Don't Ask, Don't
Tell,' but it will be up to us in Maine to bring marriage equality to
our state.”
“I am confident we'll do the right
thing,” she added. (The video is embedded in the right panel of
this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)