Today, the ACLU of Maine joined our partners, EqualityMaine, EngageMaine, GLAD, and Maine Women's Lobby in launching a campaign to legalize civil marriage for same sex couples in 2012. If successful, we would be making history by being the first state to pass marriage equality via referendum. Below are the comments I made to the more than 100 supporters packed into the Welcome Center of the State House today:
The ACLU of Maine is dedicated to defense of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and that includes the First Amendment freedom of religion and the Fourteenth Amendment equal protection under the law. By endorsing marriage equality, we protect religious liberty and fulfill the constitutional promise for equality under the law for all people.
I grew up in the town of Hancock, Maine. Constitutional values – equality, liberty and justice for all – are small town values. Neighbors take care of one another regardless of religious or political differences. Discrimination, against anyone, runs counter to the Constitution and to the Maine way of life.
We are proud to join our coalition partners in this historic effort to end discrimination against our gay and lesbian neighbors and their families. In the three years since our previous campaign, we know that voters all across the state have changed their minds about the freedom to marry for same sex couples. These voters have come to realize that gay and lesbian Mainers are our neighbors, our friends, our colleagues and members of our family. It is never too late for justice. It is never too late to do the right thing. It is time to end discrimination against Maine’s same sex couples and their families.
