November 4, 2009 Repeal of same-sex marriage felt in Vermont Play video

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, Mass.) - The repeal of same sex marriage in Maine was felt by advocates on both sides of the issue in Vermont. A blow to supporters who had invested a lot of time and money into protecting Maine's gay marriage law. A boost to opponents who feel they have a stronger case now for a popular vote in Vermont.

It was an outcome for which Beth Robinson had prepared herself. But it stung just the same.

Beth Robinson\VT Freedom to Marry: "We obviously in Vermont were invested in it."

The chair of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Action Committee had been deeply involved in the effort to protect gay marriage in Maine-- encouraging advocates in her state to help those in another. But ultimately Tuesday, they lost the fight- with 53-percent of Mainers voting to repeal a state law that legalized same-sex marriage last spring.

It was a sad day for advocates in Vermont- who, just two months ago, celebrated the state's first same-sex marriages- when a new law went into effect.

Beth: "We're engaged in a long-term civil right movement- we take two steps forward, and one step back. We had a lot of steps forward this year- this is a step back."

Vermont was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a legislative vote. Maine would have been the first to do so through a popular vote. The fact that it wasn't, traditional marriage advocates say, reaffirms that the general public does not support this change.

Craig

Craig Bensen of letvermontvote.org has been leading a charge to preserve traditional marriage for the past decade. The results in Maine, he says, bolster his efforts, though he adds a gay marriage referendum in Vermont is unlikely until a new legislature is voted in.

Craig: "If we see a lot of changeover, we'll begin work towards whatever the next step will be."

That's where his focus will be, going forward, he says-- on 'cleaning house,' as he puts it, in Vermont's heavily democratic house and senate. And he does expect to see a significant political shift next year. But even if the tides change Beth Robinson doesn't think same-sex marriage will be up for debate again.

Beth: "To suggest that 3 or 5 years from now Vermonters will go back and revisit this? I don't see that happening."

As more time passes, she believes, more people will see they have little issue with this issue at all.