Despite his last-minute endorsement of
Maine's gay marriage law when he signed it, Governor John Baldacci
does not want it repealed, the Bangor Daily News reported.
At a Tuesday event in support of gay
marriage, the governor said the issue was about equality, and urged
Maine voters to reject Question 1.
“I think Maine people have recognized
… that we are all unique people, we are all different,” he said.
“But we are all under the same Constitution and we all want to make
sure there is equal protection for all citizens.”
In a first, Mainers will decide whether
to affirm – or reject – a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers
in the spring. If approved, Question 1 would repeal the law. Up to
this point voters in other states, such as in California, have only
been asked to ban gay marriage.
Baldacci has not always backed granting
gay and lesbian couples the right to marry, saying early on he
endorsed civil unions. His signing of the gay marriage law last May
came as a bit of a surprise to opponents, but supporters had read his
ambiguity on the subject correctly.