PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – Maine voters repealed a state law Tuesday that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in New England, the corner of the country most supportive of same-sex marriage.

Same-sex marriage has now lost in every single state – 31 in all – in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine – known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate – and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign.

With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, same-sex marriage foes had 53 percent of the votes.

“The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation,” declared Frank Schubert, chief organizer for the winning side.

Same-sex marriage supporters held out hope that the tide would shift before conceding defeat at 2:40 a.m. in a statement that insisted they weren’t going away.

“We’re in this for the long haul. For next week, and next month, and next year – until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for,” said Jesse Connolly, manager of the pro-same-sex marriage campaign.

At issue was a law passed by the Maine Legislature last spring that would have legalized same-sex marriage. The law was put on hold after conservatives launched a petition drive to repeal it in a referendum.

The outcome Tuesday marked the first time voters had rejected a same-sex marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians put a stop to same-sex marriage a year ago, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.

Five other states have legalized same-sex marriage – starting with Massachusetts in 2004, and followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Iowa – but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

The defeat left some same-sex marriage supporters bitter.

“Our relationship is between us,” said Carla Hopkins, 38, of Mount Vernon, with partner Victoria Eleftherio, 38, sitting on her lap outside a hotel ballroom where same-sex marriage supporters had been hoping for a victory party. “How does that affect anybody else? It’s a personal thing.”

The contest had been viewed by both sides as certain to have national repercussions. Same-sex marriage foes desperately wanted to keep their winning streak alive, while gay-rights activists sought to blunt the argument that same-sex marriage was being foisted on the country by courts and lawmakers over the will of the people.

Had Maine’s law been upheld, the result would probably have energized efforts to get another vote on same-sex marriage in California, and given a boost to same-sex marriage bills in New York and New Jersey.

Earlier Tuesday, before vote-counting began, same-sex marriage foe Chuck Schott of Portland warned that Maine “will have its place in infamy” if the gay-rights side won.

Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was “very torn” but decided – despite her conservative upbringing – to vote in favor of letting gays marry.

“They love and they have the right to love. And we can’t tell somebody how to love,” said Holman, 26.

In addition to reaching out to young people who flocked to the polls for President Barack Obama a year ago, same-sex marriage defenders tried to appeal to Maine voters’ pronounced independent streak and live-and-let-live attitude.

The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims – disputed by state officials – that the new law would mean “homosexual marriage” would be taught in public schools.

Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of same-sex marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million, compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state voted on whether to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted rights as heterosexual married couples. With half the precincts reporting, that race was too close to call.

In Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.