"I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage," said Baldacci, a Democrat.

Maine now joins Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in permitting gay marriage. Five American states represents a full 10% of states now permitting gay marriage. But, all but one of these are in New England.  New Hampshire has legislation pending, as does Rhode Island.

Surprisingly, 54% of Americans polled by CNN in late April said gay marriage should NOT be made legal in the USA, while 44% felt it should be allowed. Among 18 to 34 year olds, however, 60% of those polled favor legalization of gay marriage.

hxxp://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/05/06/maine.same.sex.marriage/index.html