A referendum to repeal a newly-passed marriage equality law has succeeded in the small north-eastern US state of Maine. 53% of the votes counted said 'Yes'. "I'm ready to start crying," Cecelia Burnett, who had planned to marry her long-term partner Ann Swanson, told 365gay.com. "I don't understand what the fear is, why people are so afraid of this change. It hurts. It hurts personally." Maine's debate over gay marriage prompted raucus rallying and national headlines. Gay marriage has been rejected in all 31 states where it has been put to public voting. Only five states - Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont - have legalised same-sex marriage, through legislation and court rulings.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Thursday, 5th November 2009 - 8:23am