Maine Voters Say ‘No’ to Same-Sex Marriage

Election results from Maine indicate that same-sex marriage will not be allowed in the state.  With 53% of the reported votes opposing same-sex marriage, Maine has become the 31st state to prevent same-sex marriage by referendum.  

According to the New York Times, the results from Maine, a libertarian leaning state, have caused some to question the current strategy of gay-rights groups:  

Some said the loss was a sign that the state-by-state approach favored by the largest gay-rights groups had failed and that the focus should move to repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans federal recognition of same-sex marriage, and which Congress can overturn without voter approval. Others argued that the defeat only reinforced the need to keep winning grassroots support.

Abby Goodnough, Loss in Maine Sets Back Drive for Same-Sex Marriage, NY Times, Nov. 4, 2009.