Gay marriage bill passes Maine Senate

[t0dd]

From http://www.outcomebuffalo.com/maine-4-094300002.htm

AUGUSTA, ME—The Maine State Senate voted today on a bill that would allow the state to create legal same-sex marriages. The bill, LD 1020 was passed by the Senate 20 votes to 15.

The joint judiciary committee of the Legislature had approved a bill to allow same-sex marriage in the state on tuesday, setting the stage for the House and Senate to vote. Eleven of the 14 committee members voted in favor of the bill, two voted against it and one proposed letting voters decide the matter in a referendum.

The bill now awaits the vote of the Maine House of Representatives. Maine currently provides same-sex couples with access to limited rights and benefits through a domestic partner registry.

Gov. John Baldacci, a Democrat, has not said whether he will sign the bill. The New Hampshire House of Representatives approved a same-sex marriage bill last month, and the Senate passed an amended version of the bill Wednesday.

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