Sides gearing up for gay marriage hearing

Advocates on both sides of the gay marriage debate are getting ready for Wednesday’s public hearing with e-mails encouraging people to show up early and be prepared to stay late.
 
Tonight, the Maine Marriage Initiative, a coalition of religious and secular groups who oppose gay marriage, will host a reception at St. Paul Center.
 
The group will welcome three speakers who are traveling to Maine to testify in opposition to a bill that would allow gay marriage. Also, a group called the Marriage Facts Maine Coalition sent out a list of seven concerns they plan to raise regarding the gay marriage legislation.
 
Supporters of same-sex marriage are encouraging those on their side to wear red, take the day off work and bring their children.
 
Doors at the Augusta Civic Center open at 8 a.m. The hearing is set to start at 9 a.m. and could go as late as 8 p.m.