November 4, 2009 Voters in Maine reject gay marriage Play video

(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Portland, Maine) - The night started out like a pep rally at Maine's "NO on 1" campaign party Tuesday night.

Gay Marriage supporters held out hope until early Wednesday morning that the measure to repeal same-sex marriage in the state might be defeated.

"No on 1" campaign manager Jesse Connolly said, "We're not short-timers, we're here for the long haul and whether this is all night and into the morning, or whether it's next week, next month or next year we will be here, we will be fighting, we'll be working, we will regroup."

But at 2:40 in the morning, down by six percent, they conceded defeat.

Tears flowed as same-sex couples consoled each other and vowed to continue fighting.

GLAD attorney Mary Bonauto said, "We made a decision to stay on the high road and maybe people will second guess it, but I think this is a long-term issue in the state of Maine and in the end there are core values that I think Mainers share including equality and fairness."

Across town, the "YES on 1" campaign rallied into the early morning hours...

"Yes on 1" campaign manager Frank Schubert said, "I am very proud to tell you tonight that question one has passed."

It marks the first time voters rejected a gay marriage law that had been enacted by lawmakers.

In the spring, the Maine legislature passed the law that would have legalized same-sex marriage.

But those opposed to gay marriage launched a petition drive

Brian Souchet, a "Yes On 1" supporter said, "Very common sense message, that marriage matters moms and dads matter to children, men and women are important both in marriage and in raising children, and very, very common sense, nothing more complicated than that."

After months of campaigning and millions of dollars, both sides are looking to the future, but in very different ways.

"This hurts, there's lots of hateful things that have been said, all that needs to be put behind us, and we need to move forward," said "Yes on 1" supporter Marc Mutty.

"No on 1" supporter Sarah Dowling said, "No longer it's a matter of if it's going to happen, it's when."

Now gay marriage is only legal in five states - Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Iowa.

It has been banned by a constitutional amendment in 30 states.

Tuesday's vote in Maine means that same-sex marriage has now lost every single time it's been put to a popular vote.