In a his Feb. 8 guest column, Lew Alessio complained that he and his husband want to get married in Maine. Yes, I said husband. Alessio and his partner were married in Massachusetts, which allows and recognizes same-sex marriages. However, since Maine does not allow or recognize same-sex marriages, Alessio further complains that he and his husband are not afforded the same privileges that are enjoyed by heterosexual married couples. Consequently, Alessio is attempting to have Maine’s law changed so that same-sex marriages will be allowed.

Alessio and his partner circumvented Maine’s existing law by going to Massachusetts to get married. That they are not granted the same priviliges here in Maine as are available to them in Massachusetts is not Maine’s problem. Nor should it be the cause for Mainers to have to change their definition of marriage as being a union between a man and a woman.

Alessio and his husband ware married in Massachusetts. If, as he claims, they cannot get “fair” treatment in Maine because of its laws, then why don’t they just move to Massachusetts where they were married? Mainers already have enough problems to deal with without adding same-sex marriage to the mix.

Paul St. Jean, Lewiston