Maine Marriage Equality Opponents Speak on "Culture of Death" 

Opponents of a campaign for marriage equality in Maine called the LGBT community a "culture of death" in a Monday press conference.

Speaking at the University of Maine in Orono, Mike Heath and Paul Madore of the group No Special Rights PAC spoke out both in opposition to a pro-marriage rights ballot measure to be voted on in November as well as the school's LGBT pride week. The group also has circulated a pledge (view here at via New Civil Rights Movement).

Associated Press:

Madore said he opposes legalizing same-sex marriage because he considers it an attack on religious liberties. He further said homosexuality represents a "culture of death" because of its links to AIDS and because it "doesn't bring forth life." ...

In a press release, Madore characterized pride week as a time when students and faculty are encouraged to be proud of "sexual deviance." (Read the full article here via Boston Herald.)

A recent poll shows a clear majority of Maine voters support allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state, more than two years after a marriage equality law was overturned at the ballot box.

In a survey of 993 registered voters conducted from March 31 to April 2, Maine People's Resource Center asked, "Do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose allowing same sex couples to be legally married in Maine?"

The results:

Strongly favor: 43.7%
Somewhat favor: 14.5%
Somewhat oppose: 11.7%
Strongly oppose: 28.2%
Not sure: 1.9%

Voters will decide the issue yet again in November. In 2009, Question One, which proposed to overturn a marriage equality bill passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Gov. John Baldacci, passed with about 53% of voters supporting and 47% opposing.