The law will take effect 90 days after the current legislative session ends in June.

Annons
Annons

Anti-gay activists could disrupt the process if they collect 55,000 signatures during the same time frame to force a voter referendum on the law.

That would stop the law from coming into force until voters had their say in the November 2009 or June 2010 election.

In his signing statement, Baldacci said: ”In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage. Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.'”

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese commented: ”The march towards marriage equality for all loving, committed couples continues across this country. It’s becoming increasingly clear that legislators across the nation understand that it’s simply the right thing to do.”

Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, said: ”It’s an exciting moment, and one that affirms the national momentum building for marriage equality. … People nationwide recognize that the fundamental protection specifically provided through the institution of marriage is what is necessary to achieve genuine fairness.”

Also on May 6, New Hampshire’s Legislature completed passage of a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and sent it to Gov. John Lynch.

Lynch, a Democrat, told reporters: ”I have a responsibility as governor to do what I think is best for the people of New Hampshire. I will continue to talk with the Legislature and with the people of New Hampshire about that bill. … We have been flooded with calls. People can’t even get through. The phone lines are basically jammed. (But) I’m not going to be guided by the numbers of calls that come into the office. That will not have an impact on my decision.”

Same-sex marriage also is legal in Connecticut, Iowa and Massachusetts, becomes legal in Vermont in September, and was legal for five months last year in California until voters amended the constitution to put a stop to it. A ruling in a lawsuit over the constitutionality of the amendment will be issued by the California Supreme Court by June 3. Gay couples also can marry in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.