FARMINGTON — A debate on Maine's same-sex marriage law will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.
14 at the University of Maine at Farmington's Lincoln Auditorium in the
Roberts Learning Center.

The public is encouraged to attend the event, which is sponsored by the Daily Bulldog as part of an ongoing series of hot-topic forums.

On Nov. 3, Maine's voters will be deciding seven referendum questions including a people's veto that asks: "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Debating the issue at the Bulldog Forum will be Shenna Bellows, executive director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union and John Frary, a retired history professor who ran for the U.S. Congress in 2008 and writes weekly columns for local newspapers.

Paul Mills, an attorney, frequent town moderator and a television political commentator, will serve as the debate's moderator.

In May, Maine's Legislature passed and Gov. John Baldacci signed the LD1020, "An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom." It was to become effective Sept. 12.

However, an effort to oppose it garnered enough signatures of
registered Maine voters by Sept. 2 to affect a stay on the law
until Maine voters decide on it at the polls Nov. 3.

 The law allows couples of the same sex to contract in marriage. It also provides that individuals and institutions could refuse to conduct solemnization ceremonies for same-sex couples.