“These guys are all straight. So when I joined the department, I wondered how a brotherhood so tight like that would be accepting of someone who is gay.” Those words open a new ad from Mainers United for Marriage. The coalition is trying to get same-sex marriage passed in Maine through a referendum restating the marriage equality law that was vetoed at the ballot box not long ago.

Four volunteer firefighters talk about their bond and how it drives them to support same-sex marriage. The thirty-second ad features Andrew Shae, Dave Lorandeau, Eric Humphrey and Ryan Michel. It is Michel who speaks the above words. Shae answers saying “The brotherhood that we have is not the straight fireman’s brotherhood. It’s the firemen’s brotherhood.”

Lorandeau states “If a guy works hard and does his job, I’m not going to judge him and we’re not going to judge him either.” Humphrey says “When we clear a call, I get to go home to my wife. The guys I work with should be able to marry the person they love. We’re voting ‘Yes’ on 1.”

Current polling on Question 1 shows that it is in the lead. The National Organization for Marriage has diverted some $250,000 to fighting Question 1, but marriage equality advocates expect that their final totals for raising and spending will top $5 million.