Maine, Maryland and Washington may be a relatively small states. But a majority of their voters have big hearts. Today the three became the first to pass measures guaranteeing marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Maine will begin issuing marriage licenses in December, a kind of early LGBT Christmas. (At Queety’s bedtime, we were still awaiting marriage results in Minnesota.)
“Today, a majority in Maine voted in favor of loving and committed same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon. “Now the commitment gay and lesbian couples have made in life will be respected equally under the law, celebrated before their loved ones, and called what it is: marriage.”
It is interesting to note that Maryland and Maine are heavily Catholic, proving once again the hierarchy of the church does not speak for the parishioners in the pews. In fact, National Organization for Marriage leaders Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown, the Catholic anti-gay crusaders, have been bragging about never losing a marriage ballot measure.
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That’s one line they will have to retire for good.
Dakotahgeo
Deeeeeeeeeee—licious!!!! I can’t wait to read the various spins the RRR (Radical Religious Right) are going to put on this! Hmmmm…. wonder what happened in Minnesota?
Katbox
http://www.politico.com/2012-election/results/ballot-measures/minnesota/
very close…………..
It’s only a matter of time.
Billysees
I’m from the great state of Maryland (Baltimore) and it’s my pleasure to tell everyone here that the Associated Press has declared that the “same sex marriage” ballot HAS PASSED in our state as of 12:48 PM Wednesday morning.
Thank you Maryland for treating all of its citizens fairly.
Lyceius
I’m from Maine and so happy that I might be planning my wedding soon 🙂
jeff4justice
Thank you to all of you who fought this battle in the 4 states!
And fuck you to all the LGBTs who set it out – as a no on 8 worker here in CA too many LGBTs did not volunteer or help or donate back in ’08.
And way to go to Spain too!
Now I just need a husband.
FStratford
We won!
They love us. They really love us!!
rand503
I’m so glad. Back in 2000, I got so angry when Candy whatshername, head of one of the big anti-gay religious groups, was a talking head on tv. She said, and I quote directly, “Today America said NO to homosexuality.”
That arrogance has stuck in my craw for all these years. I want so badly for someone from our side go on tv and say, “Today American said NO to anti-gay bigotry.” I want to hear it! Even if I don’t, I know that deep down the bigots see the handwriting on the wall. They threw everything they had on these four ballots, and they lost every one of them. It’s only going to get worse for them from now on. Losing four popular votes is a huge loss. they will lose funding and volunteers — it’s all downhill for them now. But they won’t go away just yet.
2eo
Brilliant, see I told you the future belongs with us. The future belongs to fairness and justice.
yaoming
Marry me, Wa.
John Doe
No need to wait until January in Washington State.
December 6th, 30 days after the election… marriage equality starts!
FStratford
AP called the results for MN and we won there too. (but NOM is not conceding)
Billysees
@2eo: Re 8, “Brilliant…
Extremely well said 2eo, “The future belongs to fairness and justice”.
Daniel-Reader
Now everyone learn from the demographic results – do more equality and human rights outreach to people who are rural, to people who over 50, and to people who are men – keep doing outreach and emphasize these demographics for outreach and even more people will support equality faster.
ryanthehulk
Let’s not forget that my fellow MN voters and I rejected an amendment to ban same sex marriage (it’s still prohibited by statute, but now the legislature is open to push a marriage bill through.)
FStratford
Convince the golden oldies? Come out to an old dude or dudette, especially of they like you as a person…. I can do that. 🙂
John Doe
Washington State will STILL be counting ballots over the next few days.
Mail in ballots (everyone votes this way in Washington) were to be postmarked as of election day and they estimate that roughly 618,000 ballots are left to count. About 1.95 million have been counted so far.
There are still many conservative counties to count and a few liberal ones. So, I would not be surprised if the current 4% lead for equality (just 68,000 votes) becomes a 2% lead once all the ballots are counted.
Washington State may barely get this thing passed.
hephaestion
This is a game changer!
twoguysbrooklyn
Another obstacle is breeched — the popular vote. Hateful scare tactics did not work in Maine, Maryland, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The inevitable made a huge step forward last night!
Next stop – the Supreme Court and rulings on DOMA and Prop 8 in California.
Equal rights shall not be stopped!
2eo
@twoguysbrooklyn: I’ve been saying it for years, as it is here in the UK the US government is a juggernaut, but it takes an incredible push to get it going.
But once it does, it snowballs.
MACDONALDBANK
http://www.BendOverTebow.com
Billysees
@rand503: Re 7, “I’m so glad…
Maybe we shouldn’t count our chickens before they’ve hatched.
The anti-gay people ultimately have their hopes on the Supreme Ct.
And they could blow marriage equality out of the water if they want to.
Any struggle worth while experiences the “3 steps forward, 1 or 2 step backwards” rule.
FStratford
This is not the time to be silent. We need to tell everyone and anyone willing to listen that decent people can be for marriage equality and it’s okay. Even if your from a red state. It’s okay.
Demographics is on our side.
God (second greatest commandment) is on our side
Time is on our side
Why fear what the hate filled fake Christian ls would do?
Billysees
@FStratford: Re 22, “This is not
This is not exactly related to marriage equality but is similar and so I thought I’d post it here.
As you say, it’s not a time to be silent is correct.
And, we do need to tell everyone and anyone what will help generate understanding of “ourselves”.
We should do this as we feel safe about it and as we are able.
When we come out of the closet, either by advocating for marriage equality or directly talking about ourselves, we encourage the following —
Everybody will see us for the easy-to-see good that we are.
If we are not visible, then nobody will know what we’re like.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house (everywhere) …….Matthew 5:15
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven ……..Matthew 5:16
Yes, there are what can be called “fake” Christians. They are what the Book says are “those that honor me with their lips, but their heart is not close to me”.
FStratford
@Billysees:
true.