Same-sex marriage in Maine
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Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized in Maine since December 29, 2012.[1] A bill for the legalization of same-sex marriages was approved by voters, 53–47 percent, on November 6, 2012, as Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote.[2] Election results were certified by the Maine Secretary of State's office and the Governor of Maine, Paul LePage, on November 29.[3]
The 2012 referendum was a reversal of action on a similar bill three years earlier. On May 6, 2009, a bill to allow same-sex marriage in Maine was signed into law by Governor John Baldacci following legislative approval.[4] Opponents of the bill successfully petitioned for a referendum before the law went into effect;[5][6] voters rejected the law on November 3, 2009, in a "people's veto".[7][8][9] Until the referendum result rejected the law, it appeared that Maine would be the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage through the legislative process with a governor's signature, rather than following a judicial ruling. Vermont was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by statute, but its legislature did so by overriding its governor's veto.[10]
Both U.S. senators from Maine, Republican Susan Collins and Independent Angus King, support same-sex marriage.[11][12]