President and Speaker applaud enactment, signing of Marriage Equality Act

May 6, 2009

Contact: David Loughran, 287-1500

AUGUSTA– President of the Senate Libby Mitchell and Speaker of the House Hannah Pingree, the lead House co-sponsor of Sen. Damon’s marriage equality legislation, are applauding the final enactment and the signing by the Governor of LD 1020.

“From the beginning, this debate was about the civil rights of Maine people. By passing this historic legislation we have removed a major piece of discrimination from the laws of our state and ensured that all Maine people are free to enjoy the rights and privileges conferred on them by civil marriage,” said President Mitchell.

On Wednesday morning the Senate enacted LD 1020 by a vote of 21 to 13 with one absent. The House had previously voted on enactment on Tuesday with a vote of 89 to 57 with 5 absent.

“I want to recognize Governor Baldacci for the courage he has shown today in signing this important legislation to extend civil rights to all of Maine’s committed couples,” said Speaker Pingree. “This issue was a personal one for many in the Legislature and I know it was no different for him. Our nation is founded upon the belief that all our citizens will be provided equal protection under the law. Current laws do not meet this test. As this day passes into history and generations to come look back at these deliberations, I believe they will not ask why we did this; they will only ask why we didn’t act sooner.”

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