Maine's gay marriage law is set to take
effect Saturday, December 29.
Maine voters approved the law on
November 6, making it the first state to legalize marriage equality
through a citizen-initiated referendum. The win is particularly
poignant given that voters in 2009 repealed a marriage law approved
by lawmakers.
Gay and lesbian couples might be able
to marry on the law's first day even though it falls on a Saturday.
Portland spokeswoman Nicole Clegg said
the state's largest city was reviewing extending hours of operation
into the weekend.
“There are a number of logistical
factors that need to get worked out first,” she told the AP.
Without a waiting period to delay
couples, wedding bells could ring on Saturday in some communities.
“This is the moment for which we
fought so long and hard,” Betsy Smith, executive director of
Equality Maine, said in an email to supporters. “Through a
devastating loss in 2009 and then three more years of countless phone
calls, hours of walking door-to-door, endless data entry and an
election night to be remembered for all time.”
(Related: Seattle
City Hall to open Sunday, December 9 for first gay weddings.)