My husband and I recently celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Looking back over four decades, it is clear to me how central our marriage has been to my life and my happiness. It has been a constant source of affection, support, strength and inspiration.

How could I deny this to anyone else?

Stable, faithful and loving relationships are good for individuals and good for society. Denying gay and lesbian Mainers the right to marry is to deny them one of the most important elements of “the pursuit of happiness.”

I am a life-long Catholic and I take my faith seriously. It is a source of great pain to disagree with my bishop, but my conscience will not let me follow the church’s position on this issue.

I hope that all Mainers will vote to share the right to marriage with our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

Rita Cassidy, Turner