Maggie Gallagher, a prominent opponent of marriage equality, says the repeal of same-sex marriage in Maine shows that such unions don’t have majority support even in “a deep blue state, socially liberal and relatively secular.”

In a commentary piece posted on RealClearPolitics.com, Gallagher writes, “Even Americans in liberal states do not believe that two guys pledged to a gay union are a marriage. Politicians can pass a bill saying a chicken is a duck and that doesn't make it true.”

Maine extended marriage rights to same-sex couples in a bill passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. John Baldacci last spring, but its implementation was put on hold after opponents petitioned to put a repeal measure, Question 1, on the ballot for Tuesday’s election. Question 1 passed by a vote of 53% to 47%.

Gallagher is president of the National Organization for Marriage, which contributed more than half the funding for the repeal campaign. She claims that those who object to same-sex marriage do not hate gay people or want to hurt them, “but we do not believe gay marriage is a civil right; we think it is a civil wrong,” and she characterizes marriage equality opponents as victims of discrimination. A school guidance counselor who appeared in an ad for the Yes on 1 campaign has had an ethics complaint filed against him, she writes, but a teacher who worked for marriage equality has encountered no objections.

She also contends that the ousting of pro–marriage equality Republican Dede Scozzafava from a New York congressional race proves the power of the issue -- even though Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who received the Republican National Committee’s support after Scozzafava withdrew under pressure, lost the race to Democrat Bill Owens. Hoffman has said he opposes same-sex marriage “period,” while Owens does not endorse marriage equality but supports civil unions for gay couples.