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Same-sex marriage debate draws hundreds
Opponents square off at live televised event in Abromson
Dan MacLeod
Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: News
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The topic was Question 1, the referendum question that would strike down existing legislation making same-sex marriage legal.
The Maine Legislature passed and Governor John Baldacci signed into law LD 1020 last spring. Shortly after the law was passed, opposition groups rallied and gathered over 60,000 signatures, enough to get the issue on the ballot for the Nov.3 election. The law was to take effect Sept 12.
Shannon Moss of WMTW - Channel 8 moderated the debate between Brian Souchet of Yes On 1 - Stand For Marriage Maine and Mary Bonauto of No On 1.
The representatives fielded questions from Matt Wickenheiser of the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram and Susan Cover of the Kennebec Journal. Questions were also e-mailed in from Mainers, and submitted by audience members before the debate. Two people asked pre-recorded questions that were shown on a large projection screen on the stage.
Emotions ran high in the hall, where a sea of red-clad No On 1 supporters chanted and cheered before and after the broadcast. Shannon Moss had to stifle applause twice during the debate, which lasted an hour.
The debate covered a wide swath of topics, from the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 to the effect on other states of legalizing gay marriage.
Souchet stuck to a simple message, often coming back his assertion of marriage being "an institution that brings together the two halves of humanity" for the purposes of procreation. A man has a biological function as a father, and a woman as a mother, he said.
Bonauto - who has been in a relationship with her female partner for 22 years - maintained marriage is civil right that should be afforded to all people.
"Parents' love for their children and children's love for their parents is essential," she said. "I can't imagine me marrying my partner is going to make Brian's relationship with his wife and children irrelevant."
"No special interest groups should ever hijack the insitution of marriage to seek their own needs," said Souchet. "And in my opinion that's exactly what's going on here."
"Maine once banned Catholics and Protesants from marrying. That was wrong and we changed it," said Bonauto. "People who oppose these changes said it would be disastrous if we were to changes these laws. Quite the contrary: same sex couples are actually affirming commitment to marry and continuing the best of the traditions of marriage and responsibility."
The debate was replayed by WMTW at 7 am last Sunday morning.
The small handful of Yes On 1 supporters were outnumbered by a crowd of several dozen sign-waving No On 1 advocates chanting "No On One" in the drizzle outside of the hall before the event.
"Most of the Yes On 1 supporters were not so inclined to come out and protest," Souchet said after the debate. "This is a college campus, so I would expect more No On One."
Three campus police officers were on hand in case the crowd got out of control, but they reported no incidents.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Stephen
posted 11/02/09 @ 3:46 PM EST
Using the "procreation" argument to deny gay folks the right to share their lives with each other is ludicrous. Shall we deny straight couples the right to marry if they either can not have children or do not intend on having them? Question 1 was born from pure animus toward a minority group and should die for the love of fellow human beings. (Continued…)
SteveMD
posted 11/02/09 @ 4:48 PM EST
"Maine once banned Catholics and Protesants from marrying (each other). That was wrong and we changed it,"
In MD where I grew up, it was illegal to have a marriage except by a Christian Minister until 1964
And in much of the country it was illegal to have inter-racial marriage until 1968. (Continued…)
Danavan
posted 11/03/09 @ 5:43 PM EST
Stephen,
No one is denying anyone the right to share lives with someone. Everyone in America has the right of free association. Marriage offers value to the community through stability of families that same-sex partners cannot -- due to high rates of infidelity, drug and alcohol abuse, risky behaviors, domestic violence and short relationships. (Continued…)
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