Maine panel approves same-sex measure

AUGUSTA, Maine, April 29 (UPI) -- A Maine House of Representatives committee has approved a measure to repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriages, observers said.

The Judiciary Committee voted 11-2-1 Tuesday in favor of a bill striking down the law, a move that would also change state statutes to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states, the Bangor (Maine) Daily News reported.

The vote came after an hourlong hearing at the state capitol in Augusta, during which residents argued for and against allowing gays and lesbians to marry. At one point, the hearing was interrupted by a woman protester shouting there was "only one true marriage" and accusing legislators of immorality, the newspaper said.

"I think the Senate will reverse this," Rev. Bob Emrich of the Maine Marriage Initiative told the panel. "I'm extremely and gravely disappointed but I'm not very surprised."

The Daily News said the bill has broad support in the full Legislature, as evidenced by the roughly 60 co-sponsors it has attracted. Some lawmakers, however, predicted the Legislature would eventually move to put the issue to a referendum.