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In a historic decision today, the Maine Supreme Court ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The ruling, which came in a 5-2 decision, marks a major victory for LGBTQ rights advocates and sets a precedent for other states grappling with similar bans.The case, brought before the court by a same-sex couple who had been denied a marriage license, centered on the question of whether Maine's ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The court's majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Elena Rodriguez, argued that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was a clear violation of their constitutional rights."This ban serves no legitimate state interest and is rooted in outdated prejudice and discrimination," Chief Justice Rodriguez wrote. "It is time for Maine to join the growing number of states that recognize the right of all couples to marry, regardless of their gender."The ruling was met with jubilation by LGBTQ rights advocates across the state, who have long argued that the ban on same-sex marriage was discriminatory and unjust. "This is a historic day for equality and justice in Maine," said Sarah Thompson, the executive director of Equality Maine. "We are thrilled that the court has affirmed what we have known all along - that love is love, and all couples deserve the right to marry."Not everyone, however, was pleased with the court's decision. The two dissenting justices argued that the issue of same-sex marriage should be left to the voters, rather than decided by the court. "While I personally support marriage equality, I believe that this is a decision that should be made through the democratic process, not imposed by judicial fiat," Justice William Johnson wrote in his dissent.The ruling goes into effect immediately, meaning that same-sex couples in Maine can now legally marry. This makes Maine the latest state to recognize the rights of same-sex couples to marry, joining a growing movement towards marriage equality across the country.