EDGE Los Angeles

Portland, Maine’s picturesque, laid-back, gay-friendly seacoast town, is rolling out the welcome mat for LGBT visitors.

Thanks to Maine’s Human Rights Act, notaries in the state will not be allowed to refuse same-sex couples who wish to get married when same-sex marriage becomes legal later this month.

In a major victory for gay rights, Maine became the first state whose voters decided in favor of same-sex marriage. Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin will become the first out-gay U.S. senator.

LGBT activists burst with joy Wednesday morning when they learned that Maine voters passed a measure that legalizes same-sex marriage in the state. New England has gone from Puritan morality to become the most advanced region on gay issues.

A new poll reveals that marriage equality support in Maine is at a 21% lead, which means voters could legalize a referendum that would recognize same-sex marriage in the state.

Chris Hughes, a founder of Facebook, and his partner Sean Eldridge are a powerful political couple in New York that recently donated $100,000 to an LGBT Maine campaign for a measure that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

Richard Malone, the head bishop of the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Portland, Maine, recently announced that he created a new ministry to "help" gays with their "same sex attraction."

Rhode Island’s civil unions law took effect in July, while Maine activists collected enough signatures to prompt a 2012 marriage equality referendum. New Hampshire voters are poised to vote on a marriage equality repeal bill in January.

EqualityMaine collects more than 100,000 to support a 2012 Maine ballot initiative that would allow the state to give out marriage licenses to gay couples.

Natalie’s Executive Chef Geoffroy Deconinck is collaborating with the internationally known perfume expert Chandler Burr to present the restaurant’s fifth Scent Dinner on Friday, October 21.