Gay marriage supporters, opponents take dueling stances

Published Date Written by Staff Report

Maine Catholics will hold a vigil in support of gay marriage on Tuesday, a day before Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cynthia Dill will lead a news conference and rally for marriage equality at Portland City Hall.
At 6 p.m Tuesday in Congress Square Park, Portland Catholics, allies and friends will gatheri to "send support and blessings through prayer and song" to the Sisters as they make their decision on how to respond to the Vatican's mandate that they comply to teachings of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, organizers reported. Prayer vigils are planned across the country for the night in 36 cities. Portland is the only Maine city hosting a prayer vigil.
Then, at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dill and other officials will gather at the steps of City Hall to applaud the Democratic Party's recent decision to include marriage equality in its draft national platform. The event also will feature former Maine State Housing Authority Executive Director Dale McCormick; and state Sen. and Democratic National Committeeman Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, both Maine human rights leaders, the Dill campaign announced.
Meanwhile, on Monday, a group advocating for traditional marriage in this fall's same-sex marriage initiative battle warned that legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine would be followed by political persecution of believers in traditional marriage.
Protect Marriage Maine said Monday that threats against supporters of traditional marriage by high profile politicians in places where same-sex marriage is legal are indicative of what will happen in Maine if marriage is redefined as a genderless institution. In nearby Massachusetts, the mayor of Boston said that businesses like Chick-fil-A would never be allowed to operate in their jurisdiction and the mayor of the District of Columbia said "...there is just no place for them [supporters of traditional marriage] in this city."
"Maine voters should pay close attention to what is happening with the Chick-fil-A situation south of us along the I-95 corridor because this is what will happen here," said Bob Emrich of Protect Marriage Maine. "Once the definition of marriage is changed, the government will come after anyone who refuses to go along. The implications of the threats from these powerful mayors is clear: If you do not go along, you will be punished."