<snip>And while several Democratic legislators stood with gay advocates for the announcement, Gov. John Baldacci released a statement saying he hasn't yet made up his mind on the issue.
"This debate is extremely personal for many people, and it's an issue that I struggle with trying to find the best path forward," Baldacci said. "I'm not prepared to say I support gay marriage today, but I will consider what I hear as the Legislature works to find the best way to address discrimination."
The last major battle over gay rights came in 2005, when the Legislature passed a law to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit.
The Christian Civic League of Maine, now known as the Maine Family Policy Council, launched a people's veto effort. But the repeal failed 55 percent to 45 percent.
Since then, gay rights advocates say they have made strides in other areas as well, by getting legislative approval of family medical leave time and winning a court decision that allows gay adoption in Maine.<snip>
<snip>
Bob Emrich, a Baptist pastor who leads the Maine Marriage Alliance, said he hopes for a respectful debate on the issue. The alliance wants a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
He said the gay marriage bill is "really bad for society."
"It's changing the very foundation of our society," he said. "It's going to have a major impact on children. It says something about the importance, or lack of importance, of fathers and mothers."
Others, such as Elinor Goldberg of the Maine Children's Alliance, believe allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry will strengthen society.
"There are many same-sex couples with children living in Maine," she said. "These children deserve to be as secure in their family structure as any other children in Maine."<snip>
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