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Gay-marriage supporters, opponents square off
2009-10-28
PORTLAND, Maine - A supporter and an opponent of same-sex marriage made their respective cases on live television Wednesday, less than a week before a statewide referendum on whether to allow gay marriage in Maine. The referendum is about equality under the law, Mary Bonauto of Protect Maine Equality said in a debate before an audience of nearly 370 people at the University of Southern Maine. "We have people who want to make a legal commitment, take on responsibilities, who want to be a family," Bonauto said. "Why would anyone in Maine want to stand in the way of those families and their happiness?" Brian Souchet of Stand for Marriage Maine said the bill represents a "radical redefinition" of marriage that could lead to unexpected consequences, including gay marriage being taught in schools. The purpose of marriage, he said, is to "bring forth the next generation of society." "No special interest group should be able to hijack the institution of marriage to suit their own needs," he said. "In my opinion, that's exactly what we have going on here." Maine voters on Tuesday will have the final say on whether to keep the same-sex marriage law passed by the Legislature last spring and signed into law by Gov. John Baldacci on May 6. Question 1, which asks voters if they want to repeal the law, was put on the ballot after opponents collected enough valid signatures to force a referendum. The hourlong debate, which aired on WMTW-TV, was the first live televised debate on the question held before a live audience. Bonauto and Souchet were asked a wide range of questions about same-sex marriage touching upon schools, the economy, churches, laws in other states and federal laws. But the recurring themes were tradition and equality. Souchet said same-sex marriage is a social experiment that is likely to go awry. A marriage between a man and a woman is sharply different from a marriage between a man and a man or a woman and a woman, he said. "They are fundamentally different relationships," he said. "It is not discriminatory to treat things that are different differently under the law." Bonauto said supporters aren't asking to redefine marriage, only to be able to join the institution. "If (our) side wins, I'm pretty sure you'll see an outbreak of happiness and lots of weddings that will be very, very joyful," she said. On Tuesday, Maine will become the first state where voters ultimately decide the fate of a gay-marriage law passed by state lawmakers. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont now issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and New Hampshire's same-sex marrriage law goes into effect Jan. 1. The debate was sponsored by WMTW, the university and MaineMedia Today, which owns the Portland Press Herald and two other daily papers in Maine.
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