PORTLAND – Supporters of Question 1, which asks voters if they want to approve same-sex marriage, rallied in Monument Square on Thursday night, with just five days to go before the vote.

“The world is watching,” said Chad Griffin president of the Human Rights Campaign. “The other 49 states are watching right now. Send a message to the country that we can win. We can win at the ballot box.”

About 300 people held signs, wore T-shirts and vowed to fight to win, with little time left until Tuesday’s vote. Maine is one of four states voting on same-sex marriage this fall, but it is the first state in the country where gay advocates brought forward a ballot question. Gay marriage is legal in six states because of action by state legislatures or the courts.

After the rally, some of the supporters walked to Portland City Hall to cast their ballots on the final night of early in-person voting.


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