Any way to make those 55,087 names public?

Ugh, more hate and yet another reason that people's rights should not be left up to the vote.

Doesn't surprise me. While you all are so focused on Obama. NOW will get organized like Nazis again and kick you below the knees on the state level again if you are not careful.

Well, we knew they were going to get the signatures but they still need to be verified. But to be on the safe side, I encourage everyone to make a donation to Maine Freedom to Marry (http://mainefreedomtomarry.com/). Even if you can only give a few dollars ($5, $10, $20), it'll still help. Give what you can because they will need it. If you live in Maine, I highly encourage you to donate your time and get involved in making sure that this veto doesn't pass. Make sure people in Maine vote No to see Same-Sex Marriage upheld. We have all seen what has happened in California so lets not let it happen in Maine.

Thanks for nothing again, straight people.

I'm a little concerned about the anti-democracy comment especially in these trying times of losing rights. How about just getting out there and meeting your neighbors in Maine? Go door to door. People have a hard time understanding something until they meet you. I think the vote is a good thing. Many people in Maine are social liberals and constitutional conservatives. Put it in a Constitutional context and you've got them. They fear the Fed.

They just don't like being told what to accept. Had it gone referendum it wouldn't turn out like California.

55,087 signatures is about 0.04% of maine's total population. that seems like so little! is this relatively standard for referendums? if so, the system seems hopelessly stacked in favor of organizations like NOM, even where we make legitimate gains.

@Rin: This is not "anti-democracy". The US is a constitutional republic, which is meant to enumerate certain inalienable rights in order to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. This means rights are not something that should be voted on.

My partner and I planned this past weekend to get married in Maine this fall. Was a really amazing feeling to be planning that. Then this…

Fucking nouveau-Nazi Christofascist assholes. So so sick of them.

It will be repealed. Maine is largely composed of stupid uneducated bigots.

No Ben, not just straight but RELIGIOUS! Many straight people support gay equal rights, gay marriage, overturning DADT and DOMA. It's the religious straight bigots that cause the trouble.

@Joanaroo:

How comforting…

This fight is not over.

…but it will be if people treat it like a fait accompli and don't get off their asses to oppose it. Will the homophobes get the blame for that too?

Or maybe it's more satisfying to whine about how bad people are to us and how stupid they are.

Really, is there any way to get the names of everyone who signed this thing? Maybe rig up one of those fun Google map ordeals that shows you right where they live, along with their names and phone numbers?

I would very much like to have one of those.

I'm not sure why this is still being discussed. Yeah it's stupid that human rights be left up to the vote of the masses. but this thread was kinda Godwin'd by #3

@might be me… but maybe not: Haha, what more can be said?

Could always ask some Norway Death Metal Bands if they'd like to have a weenie roast at a Maine church!

How does such a small percentage of the population get to pull this bullshit off? Especially in a seemingly live and let live state such as Maine? I mean for God's sake, the only two gay friendly Republican senators in the country both come from Maine.I really hope this nonsense gets defeated and equal rights win out.

I just donated $50 and plan to call my friend that lives in Maine tomorrow. Stop whining about publishing the names of those who signed this petition, get out and DO something about this. Personal appeals work!

@D-Sun: I assume that during the verifying process they have to become public record. So, yeah the names should be coming out.

@geoff: Actually, it might not look like it but this almost a good thing. I mean, it lets gay rights be front and center for a vote in Maine. If gay marriage remains legal then that means that Maine will be the first state ever to vote for gay marriage in an actual election.

@galefan2004: It's not so much a vote for same-sex marriage as it is a vote against banning same-sex marriage…the first of which Arizona sorta kinda already somewhat lays claim to.

If it turns out an unacceptable number of the signatures was forged or otherwise invalid, does that mean the anti-marriage camp has no further chances to petition for a vote? Or do they get another crack? Is there a time limit for the "people's veto"?

@SM: Well I know that would be your dream come true

Another thing to remember is that Maine is surrounded on all sides by jurisdictions which have marriage equality (New Hampshire, Quebec, New Brunswick) with several other states nearby.

Surely people there have some familiarity with the issue, and will have noticed that their neighbours have not been beset by plagues, earthquakes, famine and other signs of divine wrath.

@strumpetwindsock:
…and they might also notice that no one is forcing priests at gunpoint to perform unholy unions, turning churches into brothels or rounding up defenders of the faith and sending them to holiday camps.

I think I will refuse to pay my Maine income taxes if this group has their say. If I cannot get married I do not have equal rights…So why should I pay taxes to help deadbeat dads and women who don't take advantage of free birth control given by the state and so on…I'm so sick of this shit….I have been in a relationship for 30 yrs and I have a sibling who has been married 5 times in this state. Who has the special rights here?..The fight here is a religious one. They pay no income or property taxe yet have the right to tell thier drones how to vote..PISSED!!!!!!!!!Jon

For those who are interested about the ballot initiative process in Maine, here's a nice breakdown: [img]http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Laws_governing_the_initiative_process_in_Maine[/img]

Hmm… link didn't work. Copy and paste the following:

http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/in.....s_in_Maine

@Jon from Maine: You seem to be confusing the redefinition of marriage with taxation policy.

You already have the right to marry, just like your sibling and everyone else in Maine.

But you have to abide by the rules, just like when you vote or exercise any other right.