Contrary to what you suggest in your Sept. 12 editorial, “Marriage equality faces a tough challenge,” nationally recognized legal experts on both sides of the question of whether or not to legalize same-sex marriage at least agree that doing so would inevitably result in a number of significant impacts on religious freedom in Maine.
In an effort to deal with at least some of these threats to religious freedom, other states that have legalized same-sex marriage have included additional protections in their laws.
For whatever reasons, those pushing same-sex marriage in Maine have consciously chosen to not include these additional protections in their proposed law.
If Question 1 is adopted, these omissions will guarantee unnecessarily divisive and expensive litigation over religious freedom issues in Maine.
Rather than arbitrarily dismissing this serious issue by simply claiming that this proposed law “is not about religion,” you should be asking the supporters of same-sex marriage why they chose not to include these additional protections for religious liberty.
Based on the opinion of legal experts on religious freedom issues, Mainers have every right to be concerned about the threats that Question 1 poses.
Miriam Conners of Topsham is president of Maine4Marriage.
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