It is a crushing blow to the homosexual community to not be able to get married. But though gay marriage was vetoed, it might encourage people to try harder for what they believe.

It is also disappointing that Maine would be one of the states that oppresses a group of people. But then, why would homosexuals want to enter, through a ceremony, the same status as a group that denies them and shows hatred toward them?

I firmly believe that marriage shouldn’t even be recognized by the state. How can something that the state recognizes be denied to people who live in that state?

I believe everyone should have civil unions, and that marriage shouldn’t be recognized by the state because of its religious properties. If marriage is to be a religious ceremony, the state should not recognize it.

So don’t deny homosexuals, but deny the selective religious ceremony that targets people of this great nation. We the people are not the people if we don’t all have the same rights.

Brent Couture, Lewiston