My heartfelt thanks goes out to Meredith Strang-Burgess, Stacy Fitts, Dan Demerit and the other Republicans noted in the July 24 newspaper for putting their consciences in front of their parties in supporting equal marriage in Maine.

It is not easy to dive into very difficult policy and social issues, and it’s harder yet to buck party convention. The cynics among us will say that they’ve changed now that they’re almost out of office or no longer in the public light.

Whatever the circumstances, I am grateful for their voices being added to allowing all Mainers who chose to do so to marry legally in Maine.

George Lapointe

Hallowell