AUGUSTA – An Aroostook County senator plans to introduce a second legislative effort to amend Maine’s constitution to ban same-sex marriages, sponsor Sen. Richard Kneeland, R-Easton, said.

To drum up support for passage, a State House marriage rally will be held Tuesday by the conservative, Maine Christian Civic League.

Reacting to President Bush’s push to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriages, both the league and the Catholic diocese in Maine said Wednesday they support the president.

“We’re very pleased to see he is going that route,” Catholic spokesman Marc Mutty said. “It will be very difficult to accomplish, but symbolically it’s very meaningful and appreciated. There’s a huge movement going on here. It’s happening very quickly,” Mutty said.

Several on both sides of the controversy predicted that once Massachusetts begins granting same-sex marriage licenses on May 17, other states will face lawsuits similar to the one that led to a Massachusetts court ruling the state could not deny marriage licenses to gays. That led to San Francisco granting same-sex marriage licenses.

That movement needs to be countered “with activity of equal reaction,” Mutty said. “Ultimately the only way to protect a marriage as we know it, between a man and a woman, may well be a constitutional amendment.”

Michael Heath of the league agreed. Even though the House of Representatives voted 73-63 against changing Maine’s constitution on Feb. 18, he’ll urge legislators to vote differently when the second proposal comes up Tuesday.

The state constitution must be changed because “judges can’t be trusted,” Heath said. While no one in Maine has challenged Maine’s Defense of Marriage Act or the constitution, it easily could be, Heath said. “And I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

Patricia Peard, who serves on the Maine Council of Gay and Lesbian Defenders, said that’s because people are being denied their rights. Once Massachusetts begins granting same-sex licenses, it’s no secret that gays and lesbians in other states will seek marriage licenses, she said. “The truth is these are citizens of the United States seeking equal rights under the law.”

Peard said she’s “distressed” to think the president wants to “single out a portion of the citizenry” and deny them rights. The constitution has never been used to discriminate before, she said.

When the Maine Senate considers Kneeland’s proposal, it will be rejected as it was in the House, she predicted. “I don’t believe the senators will vote to put discrimination in the constitution.”

Before Maine’s constitution could be changed, it would need approval by voters in a statewide referendum.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com