It has been three years since Maine voters turned down a referendum to legalize same-sex marriage, narrowly missing an opportunity for the state to become the first to do so by popular vote. This campaign has been different so far, not only because it is a presidential election year, but also because the Catholic Church has decided to effectively sit on the sidelines this time around.

The message coming from the active opponents of gay marriage has softened, too, as the visceral scare tactics of 2009 have been replaced by the more philosophical argument on the definition of marriage. Whether that is because of the bitter taste left from that contentious campaign or an unwillingness to rile the growing number of congregation members on the other side of the issue, it is certainly an indication that the argument against same-sex marriage is losing traction as people become more familiar with the realities of gay and lesbian couples.

What hasn’t changed in the intervening years is Maine’s chance to become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by referendum. According to the Associated Press, same-sex marriage referendums are 0 for 32 dating back to 1998. On Nov. 6, Mainers, along with voters in Maryland and Washington state, can make history.

Of course, making history is not reason in and of itself to vote yes on Question 1. The same-sex marriage referendum, like other questions of civil rights that have come before it, should be approved to right a long-standing wrong. It should be approved because all loving couples deserve the dignity of recognition, the protection of the state and the stability of marriage. It should be approved because Maine values compassion, tolerance and personal liberty above all else.

It should be approved because the arguments against it, built on outdated prejudices, fear and misinformation, have been torn down one by one. Same-sex marriage will not be forced upon churches. It will not harm so-called traditional marriage, nor will it degrade the family structure. Same-sex couples can raise children with the same varying degree of success as their traditional counterparts.

Most of all, civil unions do not provide the same level of protections as marriage and never will. In times of emergency or legal disagreement, marriage is simply given far more weight by society in all the important ways. Same-sex marriage should be approved because of the strength of the institution, not defeated because of it.

Ben Bragdon is the managing editor of Current Publishing. He can be reached at bbragdon@keepmecurrent.com or followed on Twitter.

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