Do you support or oppose the bill that would allow same-sex marriage in Maine?

If people would look at this issue for what it is, EQUALITY, and not some special designation, it may not be so difficult to understand. Why should one class of people be treated any differently than another? We're talking PEOPLE here, not race or gender!

Unfortunately some people are talking about gender here, physical gender, and how it relates to the 'institution' of marriage (as everyone seems to be calling it these days). These people are usually of highly religious nature, and this is where the issue comes in.

OK zealots, if it is all about religion (and, narrow-mindedly, YOUR religion in particular), should we not wed Athiest? Saintainists? A Bhudist and a Jew? Etc, etc. There are churches who will not web such people, and you know what? They don't have to. Because marriage is not an institution of the church (I am truly sorry everyone, but the church doesn't have so much power anymore), but an institution of the state. So, if the church won't marry them, then they can get a Notary Public, and bam! Where does your religion have any say there?

The truth of the matter is it is not our call, and it is our God's call. Marriage is a legal institution now, and it is as simple as that. The sooner people realize this, the sooner everyone can calm down, focus on raising THEIR own kids, and every one can get back to life.

Marriage is a RIGHT that MUST be extended to EVERYONE - end discrimination in Maine NOW! Stop using religion as an excuse for hate!

I consider myself a Christian and am no way opposed to two PEOPLE being legally "married" in order to share their rights in the event of death or seperation. It really shoudn't make a difference to anyone other then the people involved. Man and woman, man and man, or woan and woman...makes no difference. After all, all it is, is a legal contract between to people.

This is an easy issue to support: marriage equality is about fairness and freedom. When you look in the faces of all of those loving couples who want to get married, it's obvious that supporting marriage for all is simply the right thing to do.

for thousands of years marrage has been man and woman. fifty years ago "they" were locked up. Some countrys still kill "them". Why do "they"
think "they" should now change anything. I think it is perverted at least.

We allow parents of a very sick children the option of seeking medical attention which would save their child......... or not seeking medical attention because they believe god will care for them ,yet we will not allow 2 people who care and love one another to marry because of their gender. WOW something is messed up in this country. Times have changed. Who are we to say who someone else can love. Thought it was equality for all in the USA sure is not going that way.

It's all about love,equality and freedom. I hope this legislation will allow me to marry the three girlfriends I am presently dating, along with my boyfriend I am also seeing on the side. With five parents in the household, my children will always have at least one at home. I am sure that once the votes of all the same sex marriage supporters from out of state are added in, the poll will result in a pro gay bill.

Stop trying to drive this down the throat of the children in Maine. That is an issue more than the marrige part. Although Marrige is between a man and a woman for procreation of ourselves. How can a man and a man or a woman and a woman procreate? Leave out the medical sciences without that they can not create children with each other. I do not care who you love and spend your time with. All I can say is being a straight, white american I am not a minotity.

oops, I ment to say I am a minotity.

My husband and I married after the age of fertillity. Our union can not produce offspring, yet the anti-marriage equality people have never had a problem with it. This demonstrates the "marriage is about procreation" argument to be a red herring.
I have more respect for the folks saying, gays shouldn't marry because that is perverted. They are still wrong, but at least they are honest: their opposition is about their own feelings, not about some trumped-up "good-of-society" BS.

Marriage is not a "right" .... it is a vow between a man and his wife before God.

This is not all about - MARRIAGE... If this is voted in - it will change many things - and some of us did not vote for change in November....
many of us do not want our children to be subjected to this day in and day out.

And for G&L groups to send bus loads from California/Vermont etc. to Maine to fill up the seats at the ACC to make it look like Maine supports this bill - tells me the dishonesty we are dealing with in these groups.

I am saddened to know that in this day and age we are not teaching our children tolerance and acceptance. We are all people. Whether we be straight, gay, or otherwise. This reminds me of the fight to be recognized as people with rights for the black people. I am a straight woman, married to a straight man, with three beautiful children. I don't think that it is any of my business what Susie and Sally do behind closed doors and it is not any of theirs what goes on behind mine. The point is, that two people that love each other should have the right to proclaim that love before whoever they choose and have that recognized. They should be able to spend their life with that person and know that their love provides the same protections as mine and my husband's. I don't teach my children that it is dirty to be gay just as Susie and Sally don't teach their children that it is dirty to be straight. I teach my children that you are what you are and they are still very much loved and accepted. (And that is whether they are gay or straight). People need to stop being so judgemental and realize that it is not up to them to judge.

MARRIAGE IS ONE MAN ONE WOMAN PERIOD
30 states have had the people vote and all 30 have voted no gay marriage
Maine people will do the same !

I am a student in Maine and the president of the Gay Straight Alliance at my school.
The primary argument that I have heard against gay marriage has been a religious one. That marriage is ordained by G-d to be between a man and a woman (I write G-d as I am very religous and was taught to never write the word fully).

I don't know what country some of these other people are living in, but last I checked here in America there is a seperation of church and state. It says in our Bill of Rights that "all men are created equal". If you say that the gays and lesbians are unequal to those of you that are straight and therefor do not deserve the right to marry then apparently you also do not consider women deserving of the right to file divorce or vote or maybe you think slavery should still be legal. After all, slavery was happening for hundreds of years, why in heaven's name would anyone want to change that system?

to ban gay marriage based on a religious arguement is to go against the very principles tha our nation was founded on. think about that.