The Maine Senate took an initial vote on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maine on Thursday.

Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, offered an amendment that would have sent the question to Maine voters as a referendum, but the motion was defeated.

Comments by senators from Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties were taken from floor debate, committee discussion or recent interviews.

‘No’ votes

Sen. Walter Gooley, R-Farmington: “I had a couple of cell phone calls driving down here this morning, one in support, one not in support and reasons why. One was from a mental health person, talking about how young children are affected emotionally and I’m not going to get into that, but I just wanted to get up and say that it’s the right thing to do to send this out to referendum and to put the trust in the citizens of the state of Maine.”

Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg: “I’ve gotten a large number of calls from both sides. My district is divided and the state is divided. I see it as a serious disagreement. Is it a religious issue? I don’t know – we’ve heard from religious leaders on both sides. I think it’s more of a person’s general perception about what they believe marriage means to them. It will go to the public, anyhow.”

‘Yes’ votes

Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield: “It was a tough decision. I was leaning heavily to find a way to get it out to the voters. I think with the vote today, you really had to search your conscience, not only for your constituents, but for everyone involved. The fact is that when the Legislature speaks, it has some authority, and so what do you want that to be? Judgment is not my job, but my job is tough, to make sure it’s fair for everyone without creating great harm to people that can’t protect themselves.”

Sen. Margaret Craven, D-Lewiston: “I struggled mightily with this and I went back and forth on it. I am happy about my vote, but I am saddened because I know I’m going to meet friends and neighbors who will feel betrayed. It’s a matter of fairness. I shouldn’t be able to dictate what someone does, especially if supporting this doesn’t hurt anyone else.”

Sen. John Nutting, D-Leeds: “It’s in their genes. That’s just the way it is. As an elder in my Presbyterian Church, I’ve struggled the last year with this issue. The e-mails I got opposing it were mostly from those who feel strongly about their Baptist and Catholic faiths. But I have trouble with, once again, a particular church wanting to somehow inject themselves in the state’s business.”

Sen. Deb Simpson, D-Auburn: “The (U.S. Constitution) says that we all have equal protection under the law, so to find some other way to make that protection a different kind of protection, seems profoundly unfair. Separate but equal was struck down in the courts. So I have to stand up, even though I might be a little bit afraid of what people will say, and say I’m going to vote with the hope that they realize this is the right thing to do.”

– Compiled by Sun Journal State House reporter Rebekah Metzler.

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