Maine Mulls Dueling Gay Marriage Laws

A Maine legislator introduced a bill yesterday that would legalize same-sex marriage, redefining marriage as a union between two people rather than a man and a woman, Reuters reports. The legislation is sure to face fierce opposition—a Republican lawmaker is already drafting a bill to write the one-man-one-woman definition into the state constitution.

Should the measure pass, Maine would become the third state to legalize gay marriage, along with Massachusetts and Connecticut. Gay rights advocates are making a concerted push to get all six New England states on board. A bill legalizing gay marriage is pending in New Hampshire, which already authorizes same-sex civil unions. An advocacy group is drafting legislation to be introduced in Vermont, where the current law is similar to New Hampshire's, and Rhode Island.