PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition announced Tuesday that it has created Mainers United for Marriage, hired a campaign manager and created a website in support of its efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine.
A referendum question asking whether same-sex marriage should be legalized will be on the November ballot.
“Mainers United for Marriage will build upon the incredible grassroots support that made it possible for our coalition to gather more than 105,000 signatures and place a question on the ballot in November to allow same-sex couples to obtain a marriage license,” Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, a member of The Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition, said in a press release issued Tuesday morning. “Mainers United for Marriage is the campaign organization that will lead us to victory in November.”
Protect Marriage Maine, a group that opposes passage of the referendum, expects to make a similar announcement next month, the Rev. Bob Emrich, a member of the group’s executive committee, said Tuesday. Protect Maine Marriage will work out of the offices of the Christian Civic League of Maine in Augusta, he said.
Smith also announced that Matt McTighe, 32, of York will serve as the campaign manager of Mainers United for Marriage and work out of headquarters in Portland.
“Matt knows the marriage issue as well as anyone in the country and he’s been on the ground in Maine for the last two years,” Smith said. “He is the best person to lead the campaign in Maine. He’s committed to public service, dedicated to winning marriage equality and has the skills and experience necessary to organize and lead an effective statewide campaign.”
McTighe is a longtime advocate for the freedom to marry, according to the press release. While working for the Human Rights Campaign, he helped to defeat a proposed marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution, she said. He served as the political director for MassEquality during the Massachusetts marriage campaign. For the last two years, he has been the public education director in Maine for Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, based in Boston.
In a conference call with reporters, McTighe said he expected the 2012 campaign to raise more than the $5 million spent in the 2009 attempt to keep the same-sex marriage law from being repealed. The other side spend $2.5 million, according to a previously published report.
Mainers on Nov. 3, 2009, voted 53 percent to 47 percent to repeal the law which allowed same-sex couples to marry. It had been passed by the Democratically controlled Legislature and signed into law by Gov. John Baldacci in the spring of 2009. After the loss at the ballot box, EqualityMaine began an outreach campaign to talk about the issue and began gathering signatures in August 2011 to put a question before voters again.
“Our goal is to make it possible for all loving couples to have the opportunity to share in the commitment and responsibility of marriage,” McTighe said. “ Public support for allowing same-sex couples to marry is growing in Maine. We’ve seen it in the polls, and we’ve heard it as hundreds of volunteers have had more than 50,000 conversations with people around our state. Hearts and minds are changing.”
Emrich disagreed with that claim.
“I do not think anything has changed at all [since 2009],” he said. “The polls showed the same thing exactly in October 2009 that they show now. Nothing has changed since then. They’ve been out talking to people, but so have we. Voters don’t want people to be discriminated against, but they don’t want marriage to be redefined.”
Emrich noted that since the repeal vote, Mainers have elected a Republican Senate, House of Representatives and governor.
“In the last election cycle, more conservative people were elected to the Legislature,” Emrich said. “Things have changed in Maine, but we’re becoming more conservative, not the other way around.”
In addition to announcing its name and campaign manager, Mainers United for Marriage on Tuesday launched a website, www.MainersUnited.org. The site eventually will expand into the campaign’s primary website and online portal, according to McTighe. The campaign has also launched Mainers United on Facebook and on Twitter, @MainersUnited.
Protect Marriage Maine is made up of the Christian Civic League of Maine, the National Organization for Marriage and Emrich. The Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition is made up of EqualityMaine, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, Maine Women’s Lobby, Engage Maine and 16 other organizations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I hope it passes the vote this time. Why should anyone complain that people are allowed to marry, straight or gay. Gay people are gay, straight people are straight, no one is going to change that.
Leviticus 18:22…
The Bible contains six admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to
heterosexuals. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love heterosexuals. It’s just that they need more supervision.
LOL – Is that your original comment ? If so you could patent it !
The bible says far more in support of slavery than it says against homosexuality. Besides, who in America truly lives their lives in obedience of Leviticus?? If you do, where is your outrage over the Lobster industry?
Leviticus is ambiguous! (Just kidding.)
Which part of the Bible talks about how the rapture is going to free you from us sinners? And does it offer any advice about something I might be able to do to get the rapture moving? I’m looking forward to you and your friends heading out to the great beyond and leaving the rest of us in peace with our sins.
The Rapture will be here soon enough…You’re already doing everything humanly possible to expedite its arrival. Be patient and enjoy your sins and mockery.
You’re going to miss us when we’re gone.
Good one.
I believe I shall enjoy the peace and quiet for a change.
lol
You said that with such conviction…. Are you the judge, or is ‘the Jesus’?
Oh not at all.THEN we will have heaven on Earth when you tax cheat busybodies are out of the picture for good.I cannot wait.
ptkitty is a tax cheat? Im confused on the relevance
Churches don’t pay taxes.So the organizations are tax cheats while meddling in politics.
Ok, I understand, but does that mean you have a problem with any tax exempt organization?
Im going to guess no.
“You’re already doing everything humanly possible to expedite its,
( the end of the worlds ) arrival. ”
Call that what is, hoping for the world to end, and most humanity to die in great suffering .
Which is exactly what these people, and many others want, are doing,
and calling that “christian” ….
Christian Zionism: The new heresy that sways America
(The Political Agenda of Christian Zionism)
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12516.htm
… calling that “christian” when in fact it is being hypocritical double dealers, who figure using the Jews is just fine because they must all convert or parish before those that are presuming to try to end the world , ASAP,
work is done, and they love all of Middle East’s Muslims, even less than that.
Who is going to throw the first stone at Armageddon ?
See: Matt. CH. 7 all of it, not just the first line and what Jesus DID say about how his followers should, and he will, judge behavior like that.
These same double dealing “christians” are part of anti-equal rights movement here, too, aren’t they ?
How should a real Christian like them apples ?
But never the less, judging the little “c” heretics by the fruits that they bear is only fair.
Who says it is the way we must ?
In case of Rapture, can I have your car?
Yes, you can have my car. I’m only taking my Harley with me when I go.
But will it means the lines at the DMV will be shorter ?
Sorry but we don’t all use that book. You can’t force me or anyone else to follow that book. We have religious freedom in this country.
and I suppose you do not celebrate Easter, Christmas or take good friday off, if offered.
all three of those holidays are Pagan. The Christians stole them.
As a matter of fact I do not celebrate Easter or Christmas. I have not had a Christmas tree or put up decorations for years. Christians have made a mockery of Christ’s birth by creating this materialistic holiday that is so against everything that Christ stood for. I have never been given Good Friday off from any job I have been at.
well, i certainly do agree with you that a mockery has been made of Christ’s day of birth, it is shameful so many have forgotten what is actually celebrated that day.
its shameful that a vast majority of people don’t realize Jesus wasn’t born in December, but some time in march
What is celebrated that day is the pagan winter solstice feast day.
Christ was born in the fall and historians (during the census ).
Jesus was born in the spring time, not winter. True story
Yes, that is what I have come to believe as well. Too bad the “literals” don’t understand that.
and what book do you get your info. from
The only mockery of Christ’s birth in your post is that some men want to marry each other and some women want to marry each other…Now that is a mockery…
Get over yourself. Not everyone is Christian or follows your beliefs. Someone living their life according to their belief system is in no way a mockery to Jesus. Hating and spreading discontent in the world in his name is a mockery.
WE don’t you should try it ….. it’s liberating, and stress-less.
You cant force beliefs on people? Interesting, given the topic,
In this country our citizens should not be forced to live their lives according to someone else’s religious beliefs. They can live their lives as they wish according to their belief system but should not force other people to do so.
Likewise, you cannot force those same people to recognize your beliefs. Its a two way street.
No one is forcing them into gay marriages. No one is trying to keep them from marrying. People can have their beliefs but when they spend millions of dollars to keep other Americans from having the freedom to marry that is forcing their beliefs on others. Religious beliefs belong in churches not in politics.
The true Church is Gods people and Gods people have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Ones belief in Christ compells them to share their faith with others [you] and to share Gods instructions for his people .But it all needs to be done in love,My job is to let you know Jesus loves you ,But its Gods job to open your eyes to see your need for Him.
Your job is to live your life according to your beliefs and give other Americans the same right as we are given under the constitution.
The only things your words like this do is offend people.
Ironic isn’t it.
But using what the book really says is our right, too,
as much it is that of those oppose equal rights for all. They say we should respect their faith. But I say, so should they, too. In fact, it might be said that it is wrong, just not Christian, for us to not help the anti-gay marriage, political “christians” not to see the errors of their intolerant ways.
So if you don’t believe in gay marriages the don’t get one! Keep your religion in your church and out of other’s lives.
One day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue shall confess Jesus as Lord.
One day, we will be freed from the confines of religion and we shall live on Mother Earth caring for it and caring for one another. We will live together in peace and mutual. We will not be controlled by the religious ideology that keeps the walls of separation between human beings.
have you EVER worked on Sunday, or Saturday? (I mean your infallible god seems not have been really able to get the word across which one is the Sabbath)… becaues Leviticus says that if you work on the sabbath you should surely be put to death.
if you don’t live by those words, then please don’t shove others down our throats.
Who gives a damn what Levi says? “Love one another!” “Do unto others as …!”
Oooooh you said a naughty word. That’ll cost you10 Hail Marys from the mid-court line, and that’s a tough shot to make!
That’s if you don’t get raped in the confessional.
Is that the one that says I need to kill my neighbor because, against my sound advice, he wore double knit pants while growing rice next to wheat? Now…where did I put those stones?
And eating lobsters, scallops and clams…
So if keeping marriage what the Bible says it should be,
why aren’t we required to marry our departed husband’s younger bother, anymore ?
Genesis 38:8
…….or wouldn’t it be better to be some man’s 7th wife, then to be unmarried……Pick and choose, pick and choose, only quote the bible when it is in your favor and just ignore the rest:) lol
You might have a point, but so what ?
The point is going to be decided on the second Tues. in this coming November.
http://youtu.be/JeKYVxvzKcU
Watch youtube: The Gay Debate; The Bible and Homosexuality. You might learn something.
Err a, what’s your point poindexter?
Poindexter hates queers.
Hew is afraid he might be one.
I hope you don’t eat lobster and are not wearing tweed. Picking and choosing out of context is taking the wrong and often misused meaning of this verse to again stereotype it as being against gay marriage….when it is not. Now, how do you like the idea of a father giving away his daughter to a mob. Is that a way to treat your family?
How about laying with your departed husband’s bother ?
2 Kings 2:23-25
Why do you quote the Bible if you dont beleive it?
Why do you oppose secular, civil marriage for same-sex couples when you aren’t going to have to get gay married?
Funny you quote Leviticus, considering lobster is what Maine is known for around the world
…
Since you know so much about Leviticus, maybe you can help me with the following questions…
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates apleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors.They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned inExodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fairprice for her?3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is inher period of menstrual cleanliness – Lev.15:19-24. The problem is,how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male andfemale, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friendof mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Canyou clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligatedto kill him myself?6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is anabomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination thanhomosexuality. I don.t agree. Can you settle this?7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if Ihave a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear readingglasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle roomhere?8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hairaround their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makesme unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting twodifferent crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearinggarments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyesterblend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it reallynecessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole towntogether to stone them? – Lev.24:10-16. Couldn.t we just burn them todeath at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep withtheir in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
Hilarious, insightful, and a pleasant read. While i have never gone to the trouble of putting all of the ludicrous statements from the bible back onto those that use it as a weapon against everything they disagree with it is clear you DID take that time and for that i am grateful. I would copy this and post it to every website that deals with this issue giving all of those trying to use religious faith as a reason for thier bullying and bigotted hatred. Thanks again.
Stole it off the internet. Really, clever.
Wouldn’t be the first time and will not be the last.
This is one of those rarest of rare great moments on the BDN comment board. This comment makes weeks of idiocy bearable.
1. Remove the hair and burn on days when the wind blows the other way, then no smiting which is a sin.
2. Todays prices are low $1.95 lb.unless she’s built like an oxen and can pull a plow, otherwise marry her off to LePage for a six-pence tax break.
3. Get use to being back handed acrosss the face, man up dude.
4.Canada asks the same question about owning Americans, jury’s still out. Instead have many kids, you’ll own them already and won’t need to pay tax on a purchase.
5. You must give Caesar his due, take it up with him about working Sundays
6 Let your neighbor eat cake.
7.As long as thou can see said alter and not trip and fall and bash your brains out, as to sue the Lord you may approach. But no wiggling as it is considered dancing.
8.By scissor to the temple as most women find this the most attractive male face.
9. Yes
10.NO keep this shame behind tent walls, the wearing of poloyester is a cardinal sin and the whole family shall be stoned, as the apple falls not far from the tree. Stuff your Uncles mouth with 100% Turkey cotton it has a great cleansing effect, if he doesn’t suffocate. To burn these people will anger your neighbor with an unpleasant smell and they may smite you.
God will not be mocked
Should a father be able to marry his 18 year old child? Should two brothers be able to marry? How about having more than one wife? Please don’t call these examples extreme because it will be next.
Haha, A man can marry a women, why not his daughter? His Sister? A man can marry a Women, why not several? That argument is stupid. First its incest, also a marriage is a legally binding contract between 2 people, not 3 or 4. BOOM ROASTED
Riiiight.
Gay marriage has been legal for decades in other countries.
Point out one where your little made up stories came true. Just one.
Could you please provide one documented case in the United States where in any state that allows SSM allows by law any of the above examples.
Thats the point, ssm wqsn’t allowed until the law was changed…who the heck are you people to deny the very rights you demand to brothers that love each other?
Homesexuality is an accepted life style and isn’t against the law. The examples that you have given are against the law.
But it hasn’t been next anywhere that gay marriage is allowed, so it is an absurd argument.
It is extreme and rediculous. Gay marriage is not asking to commit incest, which is against the law in most countries. A father is not asking for his son’s hand, he is asking for the man he loves hand. A woman should have the right to be with another woman if she feels love in that way. Nobody except for those that want to be disgusting and dirty bring incest up into this discussion. We also dont bring up Beasteality, which i have seen some against gay marriage do. Why cant you just let people be, and enjoy thier lives. IF you are so miserable with your life that you want to make others miserable as well then just be honest and admit it rather than coming up with the most rediculous of comments that most of you seem to do.
Who the heck are you to deny 1 man and 2 or more women the right to marry? Hypocrite much?
You do realize how ignorant this sounds?
lol says you and your two likes.
With nearly 10,000 likes I’m not too concerned that there are only two likes.
Well your comments get an average of 4 likes, my comments get 7 likes on average. Lol BTW I have always liked you :)
And you have the mathematical data to confirm this?
well, in the bible men did have more than one wife, so if we go with the whole bible theory, then yes! We shall have more than one wife.
And own slaves. And keep women subservient. It really can be just like the 1700’s again !
I don’t think anybody calls those examples extreme; most people just call them irrelevant.
If you think people won’t be demanding some of these examples, your opinion is irrelevant.
And what research have you gathered to support this claim?
OOhh, I hope! Come on everybody!
geeze how gay
Why there has to be a public vote on what is obviously a plain out HUMAN RIGHT is perplexing to me.
Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote, in 1869, and not until 1920 did the 19th Amendment pass. Christian patriarchs claimed it was ungodly to let women have political power.
Regardless how you feel, your statement is rude & uncalled for. Perhaps less insults and chest thumping next time might be more convincing to people on the fence.
You’re right, the truth hurts. I edited my statement to be bureaucratically acceptable.
Thank you, it’s a start.
Moral progress???
Very hard to use moral in this campaign. The side forcing society to accept this disaster has no moral ground.
“The floor of freedom is as level as water”
Thomas Paine
Seeking to protect the life I have built together with my love is absolutely a moral thing to want to do.
There is nothing immoral about being gay.
And the ones against it do? Good one.
yes, obviously denying people rights afforded to straight married couples is the moral high ground. How silly of us to think otherwise.
And whose moral ground do you stand on?
Christian Moral Ground? Lets see, millions killed an tortured in your god’s name. Bible used to prop up slavery, no rights for women, child abuse, and several other human rights violations
Muslim Moral Ground? See Christian Moral Ground, substitute Koran for Bible.
Buddhist Moral Ground? Buddha is happy when his people are happy, so if gay marriage makes them happy, so be it.
There is no religion, philosophy, government, or even society in the history of man whose moral high ground is higher than any other.
The ones who went along with Hitler were moral people. The ones that worked in concentration camps were moral people . They did not fight what society thought was right at the time. Now that being said I would prefer to not align myself with what the majority of people think is right most the time. These Same people that fight for the minority Are the ones that would not go along with Hitlers plan for Genocide .
The ones that went along with societies rules are the ones responsible for the holocaust. Sometimes the majority are not the most moral. look at slavery . Most people tend to go along with the majority. That what got us into the war about WMDs. Where are they oh Sadam took them out of the country. Right I think if he had had them he would have used them. Not saying he did not have some. The point is we were lied to and the majority of the people just went along with it. People are so stupid.
Funny how the people in charge don’t like when someone else decides if they get to *be* in charge.
Yet Wyoming does not allow homosexual marriage.
Not yet…
Not so fast…One lousy poll generated by a Democrat polling outfit and you’re off and running like it’s a done deal?
105,000 signatures on a petition doesn’t mean David’s Bridal should be stocking up on “His and His” or “Hers and Hers” apparel and accoutrements. Rally the troops, generate a few fake polls…but don’t ram your hopeful expectations down our throats quite yet. We have a different opinion and a few supporters, too.
Your argument: we are the majority, therefore we get to say what is morally right or wrong
Counterargument: simply being in the majority doesn’t make you the standard for what is ethically justifiable–even if you are the majority, which I doubt.
Spruce it takes all kinds to make the world work. I always question authority.If everyone did nothing would get done. Now that being said if more did the holocaust would never have happened. Sometimes the minority of people are the ones that are the most moral.
majority rules … minority rights
We understand that nothing worthwhile is easy. That is why we have been having conversations with fellow Mainers for years now, making the clear case as to why civil marriage for same sex couples is the right thing for Maine to do.
I am hopeful that we will see the results of this drive for understanding in November, but there absolutely is a lot to do still, we cannot rest easy even though poll results over time have increasingly been in our favor.
We also have to be prepared for the out of state money coming from NOM and the lies they will buy. It will be necessary to counter every one with rational arguments.
The anonymous out of state money, and more violations of Maine disclosure laws.
I am always amused at the homophobic folks who fantasize that something is being “rammed down their throats” by the gays.
Freud would have a field day with you folks,
It’s kind of creepy that they fixate on what someone else does in the privacy of their bedroom. And it really makes me wonder where their mind is when all they talk about is sex with animals, children, parents and siblings. They seem really warped perverts.
Tyke, you know what they say, those that are the most homophobic, need a hug and help getting OUT of the closet.
Yeah, but none of em will come clean as to how they feel will they? Wouldnt want to get the people that purchase their products upset so they do it behind a veil of secrecy. That is the difference between you and those of us that believe in equal rights for all. We have no problem in letting EVERYONE know who we are and why we feel as we do.
“Mainers Untied for Marriage,” will surely gain the support of people who only read that campaign name.
Heavenly blessing, if you will, and state sanction, and civil rights and benefits, are two different things. The movement continues to exclude the civil rights of people living as a unit, perhaps even a “family” unit, but as a matter of practicality.
I would guess that the Supreme Being is in favor of all committed relationships. The Supreme Being, however, does not write tax law, or civil rights law.
really wish the gay side would stop using suffrage like it is some how equal to their efforts. This is not a civil rights question it is a damage to society issue.
But it is a civil rights issue. The US Supreme Court has identified civil marriage as a basic civil right decades ago.
And you are lying about “damage to society”— allowing more Maine families to protect the lives they build together with civil marriage is helpful to our society, not damaging.
Even your ability to spout ignorance and misinformation isn’t hurt by this, because you are protected by the 1st Amendment.
no you are wrong…Massachusetts allowed gay marriage a bunch of years ago and now people are marrying their dogs, and they are marrying their great grandmothers.
it all went straight to hel1 in massachusetts, and iowa… at least Iam pretty sure it did.
No, Iowa’s problem is educational, not social. They just forgot how to count votes.
LOL, yes that seems to be the argument these days, that allowing civil marriage would result in these things.
But that’s the funny thing— other nations, and other states here have allowed gay marriage for years, any yet nowhere has bestiality, polygamy, or incest followed. It’s a distraction from the real point, which is that there is no real argument against allowing gay marriage.
Doesn’t the UK have civil unions for all? Why is that not the issue here in the US ?
Good question. I would support civil unions for all here as a compromise, but most who are against my equal treatment under the law are just as against civil unions.
Also, the UK does not operate under the US Constitution, so they may have a different requirement. For us, the 14th Amendment requires the same system of protections be instituted equally, not separate-but-equal systems.
Civil unions are not equal to marriage. Until the Supreme Court rules on this issue in favor of SSM
gay unions will not be treated equally under federal laws.
fundamental right, not a civil right
The exact wording in the ruling was:
Yet, oddly enough, it impacts you in no way at all…
If you consider these two separate things, then you should vote for this in November. Because we are only asking for the civil rights and benefits.
This will also give better religious freedom for Maine churches— because currently there are churches who want to marry same sex couples, but they cannot (except for a symbolic religious-only ceremony without a civil marriage attached).
Predict will get 200 comments by 2:00 on this one.
If I was an advertiser, I would contract with BDN that my ad shows on any articles about Gay Marriage, as it is sure to be the top story with the most clicks of the day.
Very disappointed. Here it is 3:00 and not even 200 comments. BDN needs teh clicks.
Hope they make this about civil rights and NOT about religion and marriage. The government is not allowed to discriminate against anyone. If any marriage is recognized as a civil right by the government; then, under the constitution – specifically Amendment XIV (Equal Protection Clause), the government cannot deny any citizen that right for which it has recognized.
So in your mind, affirmative action does NOT discriminate against people? State institutions do NOT give preferential treatment to certain groups? Where is the outrage over that?
I am not a fan of affirmative action laws. But I support civil marriage for same sex couples— that is not preferential treatment, that is equal treatment.
Affirmative Action does discriminate.
The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has developed quite the method for its anti-gay marriage agenda: “Drive a wedge between gays and blacks.” Internal documents (discovered by our courts here) have revealed their campaign strategies and it is disgusting.
“Find, equip, energize and connect African American spokespeople for marriage, develop a media campaign around their objections to gay marriage as a civil right; provoke the gay marriage base into responding by denouncing these spokesmen and women as bigots.”Let’s just treat each other equally and afford our neighbors the same freedoms we enjoy ourselves.
we all have the same freedoms.As in obamas new society some want more.
Incorrect. I do not have the freedom to marry the man I love, and that is what we are fighting for— civil marriage.
I want to get off the computer – enough is enough – but I must reply to you that, continuously, it is not “civil marriage,” that is fought for, at least not in all the pr. It is church-sanctioned marriage. That is one of the two blurry bits that I just don’t understand. I mean, really, why buy into “marriage,” as quite recently defined, anyway. Legal rights are what are needed. Tolerance for differences amongst people is needed.
Huh? It has always been civil marriage we fight for.
We can already have religious marriage ceremonies in churches who accept us, the First Amendment guarantees that. Those marriages simply don’t have any civil marriage license attached.
Then, you had better talk to the group’s PR people, and look through all the press about the issue and you will see how often church sanction is the stated demand.
I have never seen that, please cite your reference.
Since comments are closed, I’ll respond to your impression that my comment referred to “polygamy.” So. You’re only perception of people living as a family is presumed sexual behavior. Well, ain’t that perfect. And, it doesn’t surprise me a bit.
I had gay friends who refused to believe that I and my relative were gay long after they knew us. Had I known that, they certainly would not have been friends. They meant it. It was important to them that we be gay. It wasn’t important to us that they were, and, we wouldn’t have even questioned the living arrangements if those arrangements did not infiltrate every single conversation. My relative and I came a hair away from being assaulted by a heterosexual maniac who assumed we must be gay because we were holding hands. Homophobic paranoia is at an all time high and it is equal, if not worse, with gays than with straight people.
No longer can same-gender people even walk arm in arm down the street without gay people and straight people thinking….must be gay. This is not true abroad. But then again, the US is petrified of sensuality and sexuality, and that includes you.
“You” have contributed more to the widespread paranoia than any heterosexual I know.
The combination households I refer to have absolutely nothing to do with sexual arrangements.
I say, it’s time to fight back. To be able to walk freely down the street, arm-in-arm with anyone one chooses. Holding hands. Hugging. The old man-to-man clasp on the shoulder.
I challenge everyone reading this to start doing this now. Whomever you’re with in public, if you feel like taking their arm – do it. If enough people join in – why, people might actually be able to act like humans who like each other again.
The perversity here is the peversity of perception that has infiltrated every aspect of social existence.
You have never read the endless pleas from people stating that they want to be married in a church? I’m sorry, but I didn’t put together a file of these stories. But, in fact, as I have no reason to invent them, they exist. The blurring of what, exactly is wanted here, has been continuous.
But I don’t even care. I was surprised that you were definite about wanting civil law changes, as so few people are when it comes to this issue. What I do care about is that along with same-gender people wanting to be married, there’s a whole lot of ones, twos, threes, and more households that will never be given the same civil law rights as heterosexual couples, (at least those who pretend to be). And that you guys could very well have made this law important to a whole lot of people, but limit it to same-gender marriage. Ticks me off. You’ve got the money.
This is absurd, we can already have religious marriage ceremonies in churches who will allow us. The first amendment guarantees the government cannot stop a religious ceremony, they can only withhold the civil marriage license (so the ceremony conveys no legal status).
Civil marriage is what this is about, it is what it is always about. Perhaps you have heard people stating they want to be married in a church, but that has not been the message of EqualityMaine, it was not our message in 2009, and it has never been my message.
I have no idea what you are getting on about in your last paragraph– “there’s a whole lot of ones, twos, threes, and more households”… are you talking about polygamy? If so, polygamy has already gone before the US Supreme Court, and they lost.
We are fighting for our equal treatment under the law. If it ticks you off that we aren’t adopting your goals, please state them clearly and make your case to the government. But I don’t think you are really opposed to same sex marriage for this reason, no one ever is.
The only people who have yammered on endlessly about “churches being forced to perform gay weddings” are the conservative church goers. Frankly, when the whole possibility of legal gay marriage arose, it never occurred to me to even consider that churches would object. I knew some might but that’s up to them. It has nothing to do with secular law.
There are plenty of churches who would perform a SSM and what gay couple would want to be married in one that was “forced” to perform the ceremony?
Really, I wish everyone would at least take Law 101 so they could understand the very, very basics of law and the separation of church and state. The State has no jurisdiction in telling the church what ceremonies it can and cannot perform. Technically, a church could perform a gay wedding ceremony today but as there is no state issued marriage license, the marriage means nothing in the eyes of the law. This is exactly the same as a straight couple being married without a state-issued license. It might all be sanctified by the almighty Grand Poobah, but as far as the IRS is concerned, they ain’t hitched up all legal like.
Could this be any simpler? Perhaps, I should draw it out in comic book form? All we are shooting for is legal recognition. Who gives a tinker’s damn that some conservative church won’t perform a gay wedding? Why we waste our time on this crowd is beyond me.
That lie don’t fly here, baby.
Of course, that’s just another anti-gay LIE.
Anti-gays always lie.
I have never read this anywhere. Please post evidence to back up your claims.
The many Christian, Jewish and other denominations that are marrying same gender couples now are being denied their right to practice their religion freely in 44 US States. These denominations have married same gender couples in 7 US States and the District of Columbia:
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Metropolitan Community Church
Reform Judaism
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Unitarian Universalist Church
United Church of Christ
How many times can this get shot down before it is ended. Please Maine.
That’s the thing though— civil marriage for same sex couples is absolutely the right thing to do, and hundreds of thousands of Mainers agree. How often do we vote on casino questions? I think at least one more time for civil marriage isn’t too much to ask here.
and hundreds of thousands of Mainers do NOT (using the same logic). You think “at least one more time” isn’t too much to ask. If it doesn’t pass the next time, there will be a next and a next and a next.
Regardless of the issue (gay marriage, casinos, etc), I think there should be a law as to how often/quickly an issue can be brought back.
Logic, education and the ideas of freedom escape your kind altogether.
Great idea, restrict the public’s right to place a measure on the ballot, no mater how many signatures they gather.
I really don’t see how one could be more un-American.
Why don’t you move somewhere where the public’s right to put issues to a vote have been restricted in the manner which you describe.
Because what you are describing sure as heck isn’t America.
I think that “Card Check” and restricting the secret ballot is much more un-american !
How many times did it take women and minorities to get the rights that they deserved?
It has only been voted on once before, in 2009.
How mant times do we have to say no? How many ways can you reword the question? The answer is NO. The majority of Mainers do not want gay marrige. The majority has spoken. Stop wasting time and money and accept it.
Gay marriage has only come up for a vote once.
And hundreds of thousands of Mainers DO want gay marriage.
I think when we are talking about basic civil rights of fellow Mainers, another vote isn’t too much to ask. Especially when the vote last time was so close.
And even then, that vote was to remove the right we had…
You have only voted for this measure once.
Our political system allows for topics to be brought up again and again.
How many times did it take women and minorities to get the rights that they deserved?
Please tell us what costs that tax payers have for bringing this up to vote again. How does it waste your time?
You should accept that this issue is going to keep coming up again and again until equality is reached.
So let me get this straight, When the well funded gay marraige movement tries to sway Mainers to their point of view, is the tv commercials and signs on the road and pamphlets they hand out all free? That would be no. So those of us who feel gay marriage is wrong have to go waste time and money correcting all the half truths and opinions that you present as facts, to set the record straight.You are naive. This question will cost millions before we vote it down again.
Actually, in the 2009 vote it was the side opposed to gay marriage who engaged in lies and deceit to win the day. Mark Mutty admitted on camera that they knew the ads they were running were wrong. And NOM, the single largest out of state funder for the repeal effort, has flaunted Maine laws by refusing to disclose their donor list.
In contrast, those of us working for same sex marriage have been clearly and rationally making our case as to why civil marriage is important to us. We abide by Maine laws, you can find all our names as supporters in the 2009 vote on maine.gov.
Donor lists in California for Prop. 8 were used by gay marriage advocates to make thousands of threatening phone calls to donors, including many death threats. Employers of donors were also threatened and harassed. Churches that promoted Prop. 8 were vandalized and some received mailings with unidentified white powder inside, as another threat. There are dozens of news articles still on the internet that covered these misuses of donor lists.
And Matthew Shepard was murdered and tied to a fence post. Fred phelps praised God for this and protested the funeral. People are not always nice. Dont group us all, hat is discrimination.
Fred PHelps is a wack job, He is Wrong and in no way do I approve of his nonsense. Dont lump me with him either. By the way the only hats i discriminate against is a Yankees hat or a Montreal Canadians hat
Problem is Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps consider themselves to be Christian and quote the Bible just like so many posters here do.
And the child, Jesse William Dirkhising, was bound, drugged, raped and murdered. Certainly not all, but many are victimizers of those that believe marriage is between one man and one woman.
Please. This is no excuse to break the laws of Maine, when the opposing side plays by the rules.
Nothing of this sort happened in Maine, even to the “Stand for Marriage Maine” donors who DID disclose their identities.
You are exactly right, but its no use. The gay movement thinks they are upright in all their tactics and threats. They refuse to believe they are manipulative when it serves their purpose. However when we organize our efforts to get our points accross we are dirty and mean and crooked. They are willfully blind and always will be. It is funny to me that they think we have only voted once on this issue. If that were true we would not be discussing that now.
Please show references for how many times you think Maine has voted on this. As far as I can find it has only happened once.
You are exactly right, but its no use. The homophobic movement led by Christians thinks they are upright in all their tactics and threats. They refuse to believe they are manipulative when it serves their purpose. However when we organize our efforts to get our points accross we are dirty and mean and crooked. They are willfully blind and always will be. It is funny to me that they cannot count.
Your points are dirty, mean and hateful.
How about some DOCUMENTATION for that wild claim that ONLY anti-gays make?????
Since other have called you out on the majority of your post I will focus on one statement – “It is funny to me that they think we have only voted once on this issue.”
Please list the dates and ballot questions where we (the state of Maine) have voted on SSM more than once.
Here I will help you with the first date November 2009 and the language that appeared on the statewide ballot was:
“Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to
perform these marriages?”
OK so now list the other dates and ballot questions.
Nonsense! Anti-gays have been making this WILD CLAIM since 2008, and in all that time they haven’t made ONE arrest, ONE conviction–anti-gays can’t even find anyone who isn’t anti-gay to make that wild claim!
It was always some anti-gay person made a self-serving claim with NO witnesses.
What’s your next lie?
Could you please cite specific cases with references please. I CAN cite specific cases of homosexuals being beaten and murdered for just being homosexual.
It’s funny, when it happens to you, you’re upset about it; but when it happens to them you’re silent.
I say good, you’re side deserves a fraction of the crap you’ve done right back at you !
But, come on, now you’re going to cry that donors can’t hide ?
Ohhhh, I get it, YOU want to hide, like cowards, while everyone else has to disclose.
Your fake persecution is laughable, it’s a fraud.
If you don’t like gay marriage, you’re free not to come out of the closet and marry your boyfriend, that’s your right. Other people have the right to exercise their freedoms.
What “record” are you setting straight? Is that a pun?
If you do not like the costs of freedom there are plenty of countries where decisions are made for you. Move to one of them.
Those of you who are against gay marriage shouldn’t enter into one. To use your money and time to make other’s lives difficult sounds pretty ridiculous to me. The only ones telling half truths are the so-called Christians who try to control everyone’s lives with their warped interpretation of a book that has been manipulated over time.
To spend millions of dollars to impede your beliefs into other Maine families lives is blasphemous. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Is that why your side keeps breaking the disclosure laws, and keeps hiding ?
For a group of people so certain of the holiness and certainty of their convictions, they sure act cowardly and ashamed of themselves.
what if the majority did not want Blacks to be able to marry Whites?
would you get to vote on that too?
or Jews to own real estate. I want to vote on that.
I think that we should go back to the way things were for centuries… ONLY the royals got to marry AND back to women being the chattel of their husbands.
can we vote on that too, please?
Rewrite your statement and you’ll be at least historically correct but not currently correct.
We’ll keep fighting for what’s right until it comes to pass. Gay marriage is coming to Maine sooner or later.
Save yourself some trouble: abandon your bigotry and join us on the right side of history this November.
Not the number I have seen reported – the majority of Mainers do want SSM. There have been big changes since 2009, including the recent revealing of the lies and deception put forth by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).
And, besides, SSM has not been on the ballot except for the repeal in 2009. So, “how many times?” Until it gets passed.
The key word is “repeal”.
The people didn’t simply have to go mark their ballot. They had to organize and actually over throw something that the government forced on us, and then go and mark their ballot. That alone says a lot.
Now of course in this modern political word, everyone is supposed to keep a positive attitude for their party. How many times do you hear a presidential candidate who doesn’t have prayer, introduced as “the next President of the United states”?
The point is, I wouldn’t get get to cocky yet if I were you.
I think it says very little. Whenever you have a hot button issue, the zealots from the opposing side will be out in droves to vote. In 2009, it was an off-year, referendum-only ballot. Traditionally, the number of people voting are lower than a Presidential election, for example.
Yet, despite all that, a great number of straight people who were for civil rights came out and voted in favor of retaining SSM. Of course, the negative people would be out in full-force. The net result was that in a state of 1.3M people (not all voters) the split came down to 33,020 votes – hardly a landslide in favor of repeal.
This time around, much more has happened. People have come to realize the sham put forth my NOM, their failure to comply with Maine law, and just yesterday, the release of damning documents showing their battle plans. Appalling behavior.
Additionally, times have changed. Prop-8 is dead. DADT is dead. DOMA has had its plug pulled. NY has legalized SSM. WA & MD have legalized SSM but likely will go to referendum. NJ passed it but now goes to a referendum or override in their legislature. More old conservatives have died off. More young people have come on-board and who are very pro-SSM. Bishop Malone of the Portland diocese has tossed in the towel (essentially).
Perhaps on of the most stunning changes of attitude is NH. In their 3:1 GOP dominated House of Representatives, the bill to repeal the 2 year-old SSM law and replace it with token Civil Unions was resoundingly defeated this week in a 211-116 vote! That meant the GOP members voted to kill the bill. The bill sponsor said he did not expect such a degree of defeat. NH polls of the public from reputable polling agencies showed a 59/32 split against the repeal of SSM.
I am seeing no negatives and all positives. Does that guarantee a victory in November? No, of course not, but it is encouraging.
So the “zealots” from your side were not also out in droves in 2009?
Who do you think cares what NOM did? I would wager that most people against this issue don’t know or care.
It’s good to be encouraged, I’ve yet to see a homosexual issue where they weren’t, otherwise you wouldn’t be a team player.
Also remember, this is not a religious issue for many people, as seems to be the target of homosexuals. The majority of Maine people don’t waste a Sunday in church, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough churches or parking. The religious votes are just icing on the cake. Freebies.
So, if they are not against SSM because it is against their religion, you are saying they are against SSM just because they are rednecked bigots? KKK-type members? No, I think most of the people against SSM are so because of past religious teachings. In fact, the only objections to SSM I ever have heard come from religious roots despite a whole lot of smoke under the guise of “danger to children” and all that claptrap. You want to talk about danger to children? Go talk to the sexually repressed religious crowd. They hold the cards on that issue.
As far as our side being zealots, according to the Religious Right, we account for only 3% of the population. The 2009 vote was 53/47 per cent. That must mean that 47-3, or 44% also are zealots? Probably not. I suspect they are people who are for civil rights.
And, yes, we do tend be zealots. We sort of are that way when people threaten us and want to burn crosses on our front lawns. Odd how it gets one’s attention.
As far as caring about NOM? Well, I do, considering all the lies and hyperbole they spent their money on. Considering how they poisoned the well. Considering Maine has brought charges against them and they have refused to comply with Maine law. In fact, you should look at the court documents that were revealed yesterday as a result of the lawsuit. I can only describe this group as evil and the furthest from Christian charity and tolerance than one possible could be. They are another John Birch Society – smooth on the outside but evil to the core.
http://www.hrc.org/nomexposed/entry/must-read#.T3Ip5NXqKSo
“Who do you think cares what NOM did?”
Well, thank you for confirming that you think it’s AOK if someone from YOUR side poisons our political process by committing criminal acts in violation of Maine campaign finance and disclosure laws, OSO.
Tell us, OSO, did you help NOM commit criminal acts in 2009? Do you intend to commit criminal acts this year?
I’m afraid that I was out of the country during the last one, so unfortunately I was unable to.
At least that’s what you say anonymously here, since we all know anti-gays DID commit criminal acts to THROW the 2009 vote. Guilty conscience?????
You say we “shouldn’t get cocky,” OSO? Does that mean anti-gays intend ONCE AGAIN to violate Maine campaign finance and disclosure laws and THROW the vote again?
I guess we all have to sit back and wait and see.
Well, thanks for admitting that anti-gays have every intention of violating the law and poisoning the political process again.
I believe that the majority of Mainers do want gay marriage rights. We will see that in the next election. It is very sad to see so many narrow minded hateful comments like yours on this thread.
The Maine Ethics Commission has proven in court that the anti-gays violated Maine campaign finance and disclosure laws. Would anti-gays have “won” if they didn’t CHEAT and THROW the vote?
People were bullied last time. With the huge growth of this country and state regarding bullying, I am sure the outcome will be quite different this time around. There will always be those who cannot see progress. There are still people in this world who are racist against other ethnic groups. There always will be. This time however, hopefully people have been educated against NOM’s religious, lying, backlash
There has only been one time that gay marriage has been voted on. When gay marriage passes this November will you stop wasting time and money and accept it?
BTW it is only going to take one election to rid the state of the teaparty and republicans. bye bye
In my honest opinion, this is where church and state need to be separate (just like the issues of contraception). You can vote based on your religious views if you choose. But this is a civil rights issue. The constitution states 3 inalienable rights. Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. These are afforded us so long as we do not violate others rights. In my opinion, someones CHOICE to marry doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s right to Life (they aren’t killing you by getting married) Liberty (you are still free to live YOUR LIFE as you choose) and Pursuit of Happiness (really, do you let the way other people choose to live their lives affect your own happiness?) Live and let Live! I hope this finally passes!!!
Well said Sherrie!!
If only everyone were as open-minded as you…..
Well put.
About the only good thing about this repeat ballot is all the out of state money sent here to “enlighten” or buy our votes. As to people changing their minds, maybe yes, maybe no. No one I’ve talked to over the past year about this has changed his/her opinion. Some are for, some are against. At least the media people will get some advertising money. Maybe we should start a ban on handguns or something to get more national money?
The other good thing about this is that I may be able to enter into a civil marriage when this is done, and protect the life I have built together with my soul mate.
It isnt a repeat ballot. The most money is from the opposition. They are supposed to be Christians but instead of feeding the poor they spend millions to stop people from marrying even though all studies show it is a healthy form of human bonding.
Yeah, lets see how many more churches will close and how many more will cease to do any legitimate church work.
I am hopeful more Mainers will join me in voting for this issue in November. We have clearly been making our case that civil marriage for same sex couples is the right thing to do— it gives us more ability to protect the lives we have built together in Maine communities, and most importantly it offers good protections for the children in these relationships.
Vote Yes in November!
I am against gay marriage, I feel it is wrong. If people want to marry the same sex, have abortions etc this is their choice. Is it right? No. We have become a nation of do what we want and never mind what is right or wrong. Remember this (I am sure many will not agree) that if we believe the Bible God will also do what he said and those that continue to have their own way and not God’s way will one day answer to Him. This is my belief and no one on here will change my mind. As far as I know today I still have the right to believe my way too. Just a note to say I am not homophobic, I know may gay people who are good people but that doesn’t make them right.
You are free to have your opinion. But I hope you vote in favor of this in November, so that people who want to marry the same sex have that choice.
What we are asking for is not unreasonable— we are asking for access to civil marriage, which is a government issued license. There are literally thousands of individual benefits and privileges extended by our government based on marital status, and it isn’t right that millions of gay and lesbian couples nationwide are discriminated against by our government.
What this isn’t about is your church, or your religious beliefs— you are free to have your religious views, and your church is free to discriminate against us. That is protected by our First Amendment freedom of religion clause, and even the referendum is worded to assert religious freedom over our civil marriage rights.
I assure you I will not be voting in favor of this. I believe it is wrong and there is no way I would vote for it. Thanks for agreeing with me about my opinion though I appreciate that.
Again, Job, you’re missing the point.
This decision isn’t based on religious beliefs (tales, stories, folklore). The only morally-sound way to address this topic is by civil equality.
To me the decision is based on religious beliefs. I don’t believe it is tales, stories or folklore. It is my belief. Believe me I am not missing the point. I get that we are living today in a world of chaos, drugs, prostitution, abortions, killings, hatred, fear and so much more. What I believe is if we as a people put more faith in God and living for him it would be a different world. I know a lot of people just laugh at this and if it makes them feel more superior or better informed so be it. I will try to continue my walk through life the way I see it for me and my family. Let me tell you this I am 65 years old and it has worked great so far.
Just wondering, would it be possible for you to continue your walk without denying others their human rights ?
The heck with their human rights, he has contempt for other people’s RELIGIOUS rights.
Call it what it is, this is about one religion trying to impose itself on ALL religions, as well as using the state to do their dirty work of discriminating for them.
Well, thank you for admitting you are trying to DESTROY Freedom Of Religion and that you are trying to FORCE every other American to join your fake Bible “church,” jobieday. Shame on you for trying to overthrow the United States Constitution.
Look at history. Humans have always had murder, drugs, prostitution (“the oldest occupation”), hatred, etc. Nothing has changed in that respect, except now we can kill more people with less effort.
The Maine Ethics Commission has PROVEN that the anti-gay cult “NOM” committed criminal acts in violation of Maine campaign finance and disclosure laws to THROW the 2009 anti-gay Hate Vote. The United States Supreme Court refused even to hear NOM’s appeal of that verdict. Did you help NOM break Maine laws to throw that anti-gay Hate Vote, jobieday? Do you intend to commit criminal acts to throw the coming vote?
Thing is, nobody has ever said that people who hold the anti-ssm view don’t have a right to that view or to express it.
There’s something particularly disingenuous about them constantly saying this is the case.
Simply being challenged, and reminded that your religion does not have ANY legal rule over anybody else’s seems to be the real issue.
I hate to point it out, but your religious views are completely irrelevant to other people.
Grow up and deal with it.
that’s right. and I have friends and families who pick and choose which magic words to believe that their dead suicidal former jewish friend said. and some of them are good people, but that does not make them right
We have to be careful what we say or we’ll have to answer for it one day. I suspect you are not a God fearing person by your reply. Try it sometime and you might find it would work for you too.
Telling a fan of Tyler Durden to live a life of fear is a rather redundant thing to do… but I’m sure you’re not a huge fan of Chuck Palahniuk books.
fear the all loving god
run for the hills
MY God loves me and you.
wouldn’t it be nice if YOUR god didn’t pick and choose?
Threatening other posters with YOUR deity is a personal attack, jobieday. Shame on you for trying to use GOD as your personal WEAPON.
Lying and coercing might have worked for pseudo-religious people in the past, nowadays it’s transparent and laughable.
The problem is the state issue a civil marriage license. Once issued a couple gets to choose if they want a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. Neither couple is “less” married than the other. The other issue is ANY religious ceremony is recognized, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, etc…
I believe you have the right to your faith. I also believe — in fact I know — that you do not have the right to make your religion the law of the land, binding on everyone else. I have my faith in God too, and I have my religion. My faith accepts same-sex marriage, and millions of Americans share my faith.
If you do not believe in same-sex marriage, then do not have one, perform one, or attend one. But keep your religion out of my government.
You sound a little defensive. All I said was I don’t believe in it and you do. Fine I can live with that. Taking my religion out of your government has really helped has it not? I can see that we are far ahead now in every way. Sorry I do not agree with you still.
Gee, Inis doesn’t sound defensive to me. You sound defensive to me. My judgement.
NO, jobieday, you indicated you want to force your fake Bible “church” onto every other American.
You seem to be suffering under the delusion that ANY religious affiliation is a prerequisite to being part of the government. Maybe you should spend a little more time in school, and a little less here arguing for a constitutional religious supremacy that never existed in the USA.
I agree with your right to disagree. I disagree with your decision that we are wrong. The only book that says it is 2000 years old and no one lives by it. If they did no one would be divorced. Divorce is a much bigger sin. The AMA, APA, Pediatricians, and all non biased studies show that gay parent raise healthy children. I also have my own study it includes three beautiful, happy, college bound children (one is already there) who dont drink, or do drugs, and are good people.
See my note above on the youtube video of Gays and the bible.
And who are you to judge what is right. I say that you are wrong.
Good for you. It IS wrong to me and I still have the right to say so just as you have the right to say I’m wrong. I hope we can at least agree on this. You have the attitude that because I say it is wrong you have to call me a judge. You are judging me but that is okay because you are a liberal and I am conservative. That is the way it goes today.
Of course you are free to express your judgements and you have, as have I. Do you think that your comment ‘that doesn’t make them right’ is not a judgement ? I still say that you do not have the right to judge for others what is ‘right’. I have a problem with anyone telling others how they should be living their lives. It is my judgement that that is an inappropriate intrusion. That is where I think that you are wrong.
You are telling me right now how I should live my life. The only reason you are commenting is because someone doesn’t agree with you and want gay marriage. You vote your way and I will vote mine. End of story.
When you say you will vote to HURT LGBT Americans, you are telling all other Mainers that THEY should be forced to share YOUR nasty opinion about your fellow Americans who are LGBT, jobieday. Shame on you. If you hate America this much, no one is forcing you to remain in a free country.
Yes, jobieday is a very nasty person and he needs a good course in reading comprehension.
Adios.
No one is telling you how you should live your life. No one is telling you to get a “gay marriage”. But you are telling people to get a “straight marriage”.
But rather than going back and forth just answer this question. How does “gay marriage” impact your life or make you less married?
That’s a LIE, jobieday, you anti-gays are the ones trying to tell all fair-minded Americans that we have to hate and want to hurt LGBT Americans the way YOU do. Face the fact, each and every American knows that’s just another anti-gay LIE. Someone should paint a big red swastika on your house so everyone will know you are NOT an American any more.
Well, goodie for you, jobieday, don’t marry someone of the same gender yourself, but when you try to force YOUR wishes on all other Americans, you show us you are a very bad American. Please learn to respect the right of ALL other Americans NOT to join your fake Bible “church.”
So fake.
jobieday SSM is not a political thing. SSM is not a Republican v. Democrat thing. SSM is not liberal v. conservative thing. SSM is not even a religious v. secular thing.
How do I know?
Because SSM is a Civil Rights issue.
Because SSM has supporters from both sides of the political aisle.
Because SSM has supporters from both sides of the spectrum.
Because we are a secular nation and the state issues a civil marriage license and no one needs to have a religious marriage ceremony to be “married”.
Shame on you for lying about the Bible, jobieday. Modern Biblical scholars have proven the Bible was intentionally mistranslated relatively recently in order to provide “Biblical cover” for then-rising levels of homophobia. For example, the word “homosexual” didn’t even exist until 1850. Many major Christian and Jewish denominations condemn misusing the hate-based mistranslations to attack their fellow Americans and are marrying same gender American couples now.
Excuse me, did I miss something. You need help, you vote your way and I’ll vote mine. Why don’t you worry about your convictions and I’ll worry about mine. I don’t go by any Modern Biblical Scholars and neither should you. Why don’t you have your own mind and never mind what someone else thinks or does. If you want gay marriage vote for it. You are extremely ignorant about what anyone else believes or doesn’t believe. I am against gay marriage and people like you are certainly not going to change my mind.
I know I won’t change the minds of shamefully unAmerican anti-gays, jobieday, but when you tell bald-faced lies about the Bible that you hope will cause someone, somewhere, to stop being an American and start being anti-gay, someone else, if not me, will call you out for misleading readers here about the Bible.
“I don’t go by any Modern Biblical Scholars and neither should you.”
Thank you for confessing you do not accept MY RIGHT as an American NOT to be a member of YOUR fake Bible “church.” You will not succeed in forcing me or anyone to share your ugly and immoral beliefs. Shame on you for attacking the many major Christian and Jewish denominations that WANT to marry same gender American couples.
“We have become a nation of do what we want and never mind what is right and wrong.” I disagree and see us as a nation that allows individuals to have as much freedom as is practical and not harmful to others. Gay marriage does not harm anyone.
Frankly, I don’t see what “church” has to do with marriage. Hasn’t “marriage” always been about property.
yes… so let’s return to the time when women were chattel, the personal propert of her father, passed to her husband.
rape and domestic violence statistics will plummet!
no more domestic violence garunteed!!!
And “Christianity” was founded upon the death of an innocent.
PS It is, as far as I know, impossible for two women or two men to impregnate each other. Couples in solid relationships, who are gay, are also more known to adopt children who have more challenges, and not go off to find their ‘perfect’ little babies abroad.
agreed!!!
so the state also needs to legally dissolve all marriages where the couple does not have children or is not able to have children
NO MARRIAGE FOR THE STERILE!
it’s in the best interest of families after all
it is sad to drag these troubled children into this problem. they have enough problems without adding this .
Yes, we should vote for civil marriage this November so the children of same sex couples can have the same protections as the children of married couples!
Thanks for your support.
I work with troubled children and 100% of them are from heterosexual couples. many of them still married.
Skip over the question if you’re so lazy that checking an additional box at the voting booth makes you this upset.
Here’s my suggested campaign name. ” it’s just all wrong “.
For your side? Sure, because that’s the best you can come up with.
We calmly and rationally point out that over 1,100 benefits and privileges are contingent on martial status at the federal level alone, and civil marriage for our families is the right thing to do.
The best you can come up with is “it’s just all wrong.”
That’s certainly not been good enough for our courts nor our government bodies who are tasked with debating this issue on its constitutional merits. I’m hopeful it’s also not good enough for Mainers across our state, too.
Vote Yes in November!
Please state facts and see why The Netherlands has such peace and prosperity along with SSM for over 11 years.
havent they also legalized pot there? they are too stoned to care
Watch the youtube video “The Gay Debate; The Bible and Homosexuality”, a speech given in a Kansas church by a gay Christian.
This is why you are just a vote. Nothing more.
Why can’t I marry my brother for the tax benefits?
Because you dont love him like that (I hope). It is against the law (incest) and it doesnt do a thing for our taxes…not sure where you got that from but it isnt federal.
Incest is illegal, homosexuality is not.
Why can’t you comment on the issue at hand?
What a stupid comment.
What I’m wondering is why do you need to marry him for the tax benefits ? Just claim him as a dependent…
You can’t, really, and there is more to it than tax breaks. Let’s say you and I are two men who are living together for practical purposes. If we each file as single, we will lose. If we know we are going to be living together, and have, essentially, become “brothers,” then if I am in the hospital, you would not be given the rights that a “legal” relative has, no matter how many papers I might sign to that effect. Let’s say, that you lose your job, but I have a job with health insurance and I want to put you down as a covered family member. I couldn’t.
I’m sure you can think of more areas where it’s problematic. (Of course, it would be assumed everywhere that we are gay, whether or not we were. Nice, eh?)
If anyone is interested in reading about the National Organization for Marriage’s disgusting campaign plot to ” Drive a wedge between gays and blacks.””, you can here: http://www.hrc.org/nomexposed/entry/must-read#.T3EoIo4mQxw
No wonder they were fighting and breaking our laws — this is the stuff they were trying to hide. Disgusting people.
Marriage is between a man and a woman
Not in over 26 states and countries….or in the dictionary…and the Jesus never said a word about it. However, divorce is a horrible sin and re marriage is against the basic commandments. Please learn about how SSM is working very well in many places for over 11 years.
Civil marriage is between two consenting adults in many states already, and I hope Mainers agree that all Maine families deserve these important protections.
Sometimes.
And a man and a man. And a woman and a woman.
And in the biblical times homosexuality was prevalent. In fact men achieve more enjoyment from same sex relationships than those with the opposite sex. There was a time when Black people were not allowed to ride in the front of the bus or sit in certain areas of restaurants. Times are different and it’s time to give everyone a chance to be with the person they love. Heterosexual relationships are making a mockery of marriage as it is.
Beware of the Trojan horse of Christian Churches—- The Muslins are comming ban Sharia law. The gays are comming ban same sex marriage. The Christian right is determined to subvert the Constitution forcing Christianity in our schools and courts. Where do you think all this talk about the presidents religion is comming from? Check you church it may be just a plank in a Trojan horse.
…and out from under various and sundry rocks come the Levites, bleating cherry-picked snippets from a not-particularly-ancient and not-especially-clever book of tribal prohibitions. I’ll leave aside the foolishness of kowtowing to a book that bans the eating of seafood and forbids being in the presence of menstruating women to take up the nonsense that only by keeping marriage hetero can we keep it “sacred.” I’m sorry, but as a hetero married very nearly 27 years, I am NOT offended by my gay friends wishing to enter into the serious commitment of a marriage. What DOES offend me, however, are empty-headed heteros who get liquored up in Vegas and wind up married- for 56 hours or so. If the reactionaries are so damned serious about preserving the great god-holy sanctity of marriage, where is their campaign against such hetero mockery of marriage?
Biblical illiterates and hypocrites is all they are.
Because marriage is the union of a man and a woman. It has been for a very very long time. If two people what to be joined in some way that’s great for them call it something else because it is not marriage.
You are free to hold this opinion, but our government must treat us equally as it extends protections under the law.
If we remove civil marriage altogether, and institute civil unions for everyone, that would meet Constitutional scrutiny. But so long as we have civil marriage in this nation, what same sex couples need is civil marriage.
You’re DEAD wrong about marriage, Mainegunguy. Here, let me help you learn the facts about marriage. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian®, will explain to you how you are wrong. It’s a video, complete with the Bible verses, and you will find it easy to understand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw
I will donate $1 to Mainers United for Marriage (http://www.mainersunited.org/) for every person who clicks “Like” on this message.
Update on March 29: Comments are closed now, and 25 people liked this post— so I am making a $25 contribution to Mainers United for Marriage! Thanks everyone, I look forward to trying this again the next time this topic hits the main page of the BDN.
happy to be your first “like”….I hope you get many more. Perhaps editing this into one of your earlier posts would help it get more visibility so it’s not towards the end of the comments section.
I figured it’d get better traction at the root of the comments, if enough people like this, it will be the first on the list when sorting by “best rating” :)
I donate every paycheck, but I thought this would be a nice additional effort to show my support! Maybe I’ll do this on every story that makes the BDN main page, if the response is good here.
It took me a while to find this, I had to “load more comments.” It is generous and marvelous, and a first on these boards as far as I know.
Thank you!!!
No comments removed, wonder how long before i see a bunch
When this fundamental right is finally guaranteed to all citizens and the issue is put to rest; I wonder who and what the ecclesiastical tub thumpers and bigots will savage and feel superior to next?
That would be whatever scapegoats are lower on the religious bigot totem pole.
The poor, drug addicts, single mothers, you get the picture…
If you oppose marriage equality, you are a bigot. Pure and simple. There’s absolutely no good reason why two men or two women shouldn’t be able to marry each other.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?
Let’s see, what’s so bad about teaching your children that gays are people too and that it’s okay to be gay? Being gay has been scientifically proven to NOT be a choice and is NOT a product of environment, but is in fact hard-wired. I’m straight. No amount of anything will change that. I have gay friends. No amount of anything will change that.
Teaching your kids to hate gay people just because “it’s unnatural!” should constitute child abuse. People who do such things do not deserve children.
BUT IT’S UNNATURAL!
Oh wait, homosexual behavior has been observed in EVERY. SINGLE. SPECIES. of animal that has two sexes.
BUT GOD SAYS IT’S BAD!
Who cares? Just because God says something is bad means we don’t do bad things? Didn’t Jesus die for our sins so that all will be forgiven when we die and we’ll be able to get into heaven?
You might also be surprised to learn that not everyone is a Christian, and not everyone believes in the bible. Those people don’t want your values forced upon them any more than you want theirs forced upon you.
This comment reads like one of those Watchtower pamphlets. Did you plagiarize this?
Every word Kevin wrote is factual. Sexual orientation, whether gay or non-gay, has been shown by science to be inborn and unchangeable, and psychologists have shown being gay or lesbian is just as healthy and “normal” as being non-gay. Here are several respected websites (and a citation from Fox News for the doubters) that document this:
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/17/science/sci-gaybrain17
http://psych.fullerton.edu/rlippa/bbc_birthorder.htm
http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12465295
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/06/26/brothers=gay.html
http://www.medpagetoday.com/OBGYN/Pregnancy/3641
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080617151845.htm
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6209976
http://www.apa.org/topics/sorientation.html
There we all go, bringing religion into what should be a no brainer. Keep God and Politics out of each others bedroom. Unless invited, it’s not our place to be in there.
ChuckGG I am not a “conservative church goer” in fact I don’t even go to any organized church. I chose not to be a club member and allow God’s guidance on all matters in my life.
I have nothing against gays and lesbians, but what I do disagree with 100%, without a 2nd thought, is that your ‘lifestyle’ is of your choosing, but making it public is a desecration to the values and principles we cherish as valuable & precious in our lives. What you do in your home is your business, influencing the general public to embrace or honor that is un-American and outrageous!! Then again, nothing is being upheld as private and cherished anymore & that angers me to my core!!
It’s good that parents want to teach their children to love and respect people, I won’t disagree with that. What I will disagree with is, how these groups are almost force feeding these ideas and generalities among our youth, that its okay to have “two moms or two dads” What is so traditional about that? I have to wonder what percentage of Americans know that their children are reading books in school, stories about 2 moms and 2 dads? And this is ok with you? Yes ‘they’ are people, but have you done your homework on how these laws will affect Everyone? How they will affect you too?
Oh and by the way in case you have forgotten or didn’t read your history book, this freedom loving country was founded on Christianity and the church. The church or gov’t has nothing to do with the American people opposed to these equal human rights laws. If you don’t like the laws where you live, yes you have the right to try and change them, but wouldn’t it be more easier to just relocate?
TO ALL MAINE SENATORS AND GOVERNMENT: Please do not allow the “same sex laws” to be passed. I oppose equal human rights for same sex unions. LIFESTYLE IS ‘NOT’ OKAY. It’s wrong not only in the eyes of God, but it’s wrong for our youth, it’s wrong to embrace it – that it’s okay, when it’s NOT!!
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor h-o-m-o-s-e-x-u-a-l offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
Thank you Sue for a great comment. I appreciate you and your thoughts.
Yep, no second thoughts for you !
You’re wrong. Being gay is not un-American. In fact, being who you are and being free to be that way is the most American thing there is.
Also, being gay is not a lifestyle or a choice. People are born gay, and no amount of education or beatings will change that.
I want my kids to know that it’s okay to be gay, because they just might be gay themselves. I don’t want them to feel like they’re broken, immoral, or wrong just because of who they are.
If you want your kids to grow up to be bigoted little haters like you, then homeschool them or send them to a private school where they’ll stay away from and stop bullying other kids who aren’t just like them.
You are entitled to your opinion, but I think you are wrong to oppose equal human rights.
I have been in a monogamous relationship with a man for decades. We have built a life together. We volunteer for charities. We support our community. We are married in every sense of the word except our government will not extend civil marriage to us.
I do not tell others how to raise their children, nor does Maine law set school curriculum. If you are offended by our equal human rights (your words), I encourage you to become involved with your local school for it is they who set the teaching curriculum.
I hope you will see for yourself that my eventual marriage to the love of my life does not harm you or your family in the least— if anything, civil marriage equality in Maine makes our state more American in its values, because it is equal opportunity, and equal treatment under our government, which has been a hallmark of what makes the USA great.
Then there is one of my favorite verses in the God book: “Now kill all the boys. And
kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourself every
girl who has never slept with a man.” (Numbers 31:17-18)
Oh you Christians and that damned book. It was written thousands of years ago and accepts no new learning or knowledge.
Since the bible says it is right and it is the infallible word of God, I guess I must start killing all of the boys and non-virgins I see. I will be a good boy and keep all of the virgins for myself, though.
Shame on you for LYING about the Bible, Sue. Modern Biblical scholars have proven the Bible was intentionally mistranslated relatively recently in order to provide “Biblical cover” for then-rising levels of homophobia. For example, the word “homosexual” didn’t even exist until 1850. Many major Christian and Jewish denominations condemn misusing the hate-based mistranslations to attack their fellow Americans and are marrying same gender American couples now.
There must be equal civil rights for all people, single, married, living with others as a unit, and same-gender situations. That you ask Senators and Government not to prohibit equal civil practice, suggesting that they should override the decisions of voters, is appalling.
This is not about “lifestyles.” “Lifestyles,” is something wealthy people may have. Everybody else wants fair play. I see you still believe that homosexuality is a choice. More’s the pity.
Do you understand that the gist of what you are contending translates into approving for all behaviors within a traditional heterosexual marriage, as that is the ultimate purity? Surely you must see this is wrong.
Look up the internal NOM memo that states they want to drive a wedge between gays and blacks-already two communities hated and tormented every day.That’s their 1850’s playbook.
Luke 6:37
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
James 4:11-12
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks
against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law
and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the
law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to
save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Romans 2:1-3
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges.
For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you,
the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of
God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O
man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them
yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
I certainly hope it passes! LOVE IS LOVE IT KNOWS NO BOUNDS
Gay marriage supporters believe it’s discrimination, and Christians believe it’s Sin. No one on either side of this debate will change their mind. Let’s just vote and get it over with.
But let’s hope it’s a FAIR vote this time. The Maine Ethics Commission caught the anti-gay group NOM violating Maine campaign finance and disclosure laws.
And remember that last time anyone opposed to SSM, was labeled a Nazi. What will it be this time, the Anti-Christ? As I said earlier, only the advertising agencies will win in this re-vote.
What I remember the last time was all the misinformation coming from NOM. I remember there refusal (and continued refusal) to comply with Maine law. And I remember that when the vote was over NOM spokesperson came out and announced that much of the campaign was based on lies.
That’s what I remember.
“anyone opposed to SSM, was labeled a Nazi”
LGBT Americans are called much worse every day. The deleted posts here were deleted because the names the anti-gay posters called us violate the terms of service here. If anti-gays don’t like being called names, it’s up to them to stop attacking LGBT Americans and start acting like Americans again. No one but anti-gays can repair their unsavory reputation.
If the jackboot fits, wear it.
Take a look at the pictures of Brian Brown, the boss of the anti-gay cult “NOM,” and yes, he’s the one wearing the jackboots.
Protect Maine Equality never said any such thing in their advertising; the ads were truthful and took the high ground.
If you are referring to anonymous internet users and what they spout in these forums… well, you should admit that outrageous hyperbole gets spouted by both sides of the issue here.
Which ever way a person votes will be fair. The outcome might not be what someone wants. the final vote whatever the outcome will be fair.
Well, it wasn’t FAIR the last time. We KNOW for a FACT that anti-gays committed criminal acts to THROW the previous vote.
Look Both sides have their problems. They don’t trust each other. It doesn’t matter how much money is raised, people in the end are going to vote how they believe. Both side are Polarized on Gay marriage. I don’t think anyone is sitting on the fence on this issue. They are either For or Against. Like I said earlier Supporter think it’s discrimination and opponents think it is immoral. Every time there is an article in the BDN on this subject has the same people writing comments every time on both sides of the issue.
It is simply WRONG to say BOTH “sides have their problems.” That isn’t true! The ANTI-GAYS violated Maine Law, as the Maine Ethics Commission PROVED. Those supporting marriage equality did NO SUCH THING.
The voters didn’t violated anything. If you voted yes, or No it is nothing but a vote. You seem to think if a person voted yes or no they were manipulated by an AD. Both side of this issue don’t need advertisement to make up their mind. Your either for or against.
Are you really trying to DENY that the anti-gays VIOLATED the LAW and POISONED the POLITCAL PROCESS?????
Tough luck, the Maine Ethics Commission PROVED the anti-gays THREW the vote.
I cannot locate the legal decision on the Maine Ethics Commission website. There was a request to investigate, and then a legal block made by NOM. After that, I see nothing, and I’m sure the case law would be available if what you said is fact.
But you truly are not helping the cause. The vitriolic posts, in CAPS do not persuade.
As you push the NOM issue so hard, it is time for someone to ask the Maine Ethics Commission to investigate the sources of the monies utilized by the other side, as well as the aggressive tactics from highly-paid canvassers. I have yet to see full disclosure on that funding.
As with any cause, there are often not-so-good-guys associated with any large-scale movement. You may not know about them, but they exist, and, like you, they turn people away from what should be a simple decision to allow civil laws and rights to apply to everyone.
I do not think that both sides have their problems. I think that it is you with the problem of sticking your nose into other’s lives where you are not welcome and have no place. It is discriminatory to lobby against other people’s civil rights. Why not live your own life and stay out of others’ . No response needed.
I wish you would practice what you preach.lol
I do. I do not tell others how to live their lives, it is you who continues to insist that gay marriage will in some way impact your life. It will not. Really, other than your religious teachings, just what is your problem. And wondering, does your religion teach you to intrude in other’s lives ?
I see above that you really do not care that much if gay marriage does become law, then why are you going on and on about it here. There is nothing funny about bigotry, so no lol from me.
My whole original post was I respected the people on both sides in how they voted. I give both sides of this issue credit for being smart people. I believe / hope people who voted (which ever way they voted) wasn’t influenced by TV ads. I think what ever side a person is on is ok. I want to believe people of Maine are grownups and could care less what others outside of the state think. I think also people on both sides of the issue can get carried away. I might have got a little off tract, but to accuse me of being a Bigot got under my skin some. I have a hard time with anyone who attacks anyone because of what they think. Carrotcakeman jumped to conclusions and went on the attack. I have friends who are Gay and I respect them just like a friend who are straight. Mean people I have no use for. I am all for this vote in November, but what ever way it goes I hope this is the end of the fighting. Probably to much to ask.
You are NOT “respecting” those who support marriage equality when you falsely claim we’ve done as many improper things as the anti-gays. Can you show when those supporting marriage equality violated Maine’s campaign finance and disclosure laws–which we know for a FACT anti-gays DID?
That’s your opinion, and I can’t argue with you. I could care less who buys your time or the other side for TV ads. These Ads don’t affect most people, but if it means that much to you that so be it.
It will never be over until equality is reached. It’s just a matter of time.
Since you say that you have gay friends and you will be voting in November, I hope that you would vote in the best interests of your friends, after all isn’t that what friends do, and it is about their lives, not yours. I find these votes disturbing because I do not believe that anyone’s civil rights should need to be dependent on a majority vote.
You say that you are disturbed at being called a bigot. I suggest that you take some time to think about what you have said in your posts and be open minded.
I can understand anyone being uncomfortable with a lifestyle different from their own, but discomfort is not a reason to deny anyone their civil liberties.
I am no youngster and I speak as a heterosexual who believes in freedom for all to live their lives to the fullest with all the protections and liberties under our laws.
Are they obsessing over what you do in your bedroom? Are they trying to force you into a same sex lifestyle? Are they calling you degrading names? Making up lies about you?
The comment referred to NOM breaking numerous of our campaign laws. That isn’t fair.
I do not think that you should be painting all Christians with your bigoted brush.
I am told the definition of a Christian mean (someone who accepts Christ as savior) not someone who goes to church to feel good. Most Christians think it’s Sin. I am stating a fact not a opinion. Now I don’t consider myself a Bigot and I don’t Judge a supporter of Gay right. I just think trying to justify a new vote, (because someone out of state sent money to the opposite side for ads) was the reason voters repealed the law is grasping for straws to Justify the results of a new vote. Why not say the truth that you disagree and want a new vote and will continue to want another vote until you get what you want. That’s really the plan. Eventually you will be successful.
Anyone can put just about any ballot measure they want up for a vote if they get enough signatures.
If you don’t like it, move somewhere where it’s not permitted. Like Iran.
And one group of Christians does not get to dictate to another what they believe, “majority” or not.
Yes SSMariage will become law and you are a bigot whether you know it or not. I still say that you do not have the right to speak for Christians outside of your own cult.
How you feel or vote is of no consequence to me. What you do or do not justify is also of no consequence to anyone but to you and your fundamentalistic cult.
It’s always important to remember it isn’t just a matter of those denominations who lie that they’d be forced to perform same gender marriages. The many Christian, Jewish and other denominations that are marrying same gender couples now are being denied their right to practice their religion freely in 44 US States.
Good point, I had not realized that.
Kind of ironic–many, many heterosexual couples want to live together and NOT get married. They say a piece of paper doesn’t make any difference.
It seems like only homosexuals want to get married–kind of strange, isn’t it? They want the benefits of marriage that heterosexuals don’t care about. Perhaps it isn’t about marriage at all??
At least the mixed-sex couples can CHOOSE whether or NOT they get married.
Some say the reason Maryland’s legislature passed a Marriage Equality bill and their Governor signed it so quickly is one of those sad cases where a loving, committed long-term same gender couple was SEPARATED when one of them was admitted to a hospital:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/washington-adventist-denied-same-sex-visitation-hospital-apologizes/2012/01/19/gIQAvngQCQ_story.html
This is why a majority of Americans support marriage equality–they see what happens without it.
Uh….wouldn’t a heterosexual couple ALSO be SEPARATED when one of them was admitted to the hospital???
No, perhaps you do not know that there are times that only legal members of one’s family can be admitted to the sick person’s room. I have a feeling that there is much more that you do not know about civil rights.
That’s right, usegoodsense, but the heterosexual couple has the CHOICE to get married that currently a same gender couple is DENIED.
I will admit, fifteen years ago I did not see the need for civil marriage. But as I get older alongside the love of my life, it is clear we are sharing something very special together. And I want to protect this with civil marriage.
Thank you for your understanding, I hope you will join us in voting for same sex marriage in November!
It is about equal rights.
I don’t think you understand irony.
Yeah, kind of ironic, isn’t it?
flogging a dead horse so to speak… i guess we’ll have to see what happens this fall huh
Fantastic news.
But it’s not “Gay Marriage.” We just want to be able to marry the one we love-just marriage. Nothing else, nothing “special.”
That’s right, we just want the SAME 1,138 federal rights that all other Americans take for granted.
My partner and I paid the same into Social Security as another couple who are “similarly situated” (that’s the legal term) in that they have identical incomes, but if that other couple is mixed-sex, they will get MUCH MORE of THEIR OWN MONEY BACK than my partner and I will, under the federal anti-gay Hate Law, DOMA.
ok
Almost every atrocity know to man kind was done in the name of the bible. Granted they might have misused it. My thought on this is the ones that would stand up for the minority and questing the majority are sometimes more oral than the majority. Some people think and do not care about what the majority of people think. Do you want to be a follower ? when sometimes the majority of society is wrong. Religions have persecuted the minority many times in the past and will probably do so in the future. People who think any non true believes is evil have no clue what they are talking about for them I feel bad. Religion is great and very helpful for some people. But the truth as I see it is hurtful to others mostly people who are non believer or different.
It took me a while to find this — but the idea is brilliant, and a first as far as I know on these boards. Thank you!!!
This issue is the perfect opportunity to show LePage how unhappy Maine is with him and his ilk. Pass same sex marriage and send a strong signal to the Tea Drinking GOP that Maine has had enough of their nonsense and are not drinking their nasty tea.
Go out of state to get married. I will vote NOOOO I disagree with gay marriage. Sending the wrong message to children.
So you don’t support gay marriage because of the children. But it is OK for a homosexual couple to leave the state of Maine, get married and return and you have no problem with that and that doesn’t send the “wrong message to children”?
Do you drink in front of your children?
Do you smoke in front of your children?
Do you text or talk on your cell phone in front of your children?
Do you speed while driving, speed up on yellow lights, do “rolling” stop sign stops, etc…in front of your children?
Do you ALWAYS send your children the “right message”?
The wrong message for children is that it is acceptable for our government to discriminate against Americans.
Going out of state to get married doesn’t give us a civil marriage in Maine, which is the whole point. We can already have nonbinding religious marriage ceremonies, after all.
Your vote is your own. I think that it is you who is sending the wrong message to children. You are raising your children to be mean spirited, bigoted people, like yourself. Shameful.
We know anti-gays violated Maine law to THROW the 2009 vote. Will you violate the law this time to poison our political process?
If church sanction is the stated demand” then please explain why this law and the one that was repealed in 2009 specifically exempted churches and religious organizations from being forced to perform SSM if it conflicted with church/religious doctrine.
That’s just one of the standard anti-gay LIES. Why would we want to get married in the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, or ANY skanky cult that attacks LGBT Americans? The many Christian, Jewish and other denominations that are marrying same gender couples now are being denied their right to practice their religion freely in 44 US States. These denominations have married same gender couples in 7 US States and the District of Columbia:
The Episcopal Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Metropolitan Community Church
Reform Judaism
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Unitarian Universalist Church
United Church of Christ
These and many other denominations reject the hate speech inserted in the bible to hurt LGBT people. Modern Biblical scholars have proven the Bible was intentionally mistranslated relatively recently in order to provide “Biblical cover” for then-rising levels of homophobia. For example, the word “homosexual” didn’t even exist until 1850.
So with all this LGBT stuff.. What’s with the “BT” part ?
Bisexual and transgender Americans are attacked the same way gay and lesbian Americans are attacked. The same few anti-gays attack all of us.
And the “damage to society issue” in states that already allow SSM are or have been?
Massachusetts now has the LOWEST divorce rate of ANY US State.
By the way, the HIGHEST divorce rate is among the “religious wrong” that attack LGBT Americans and try to deprive them of marriage equality.
I will try this one more time. Ads one side or the other will not influence anyone’s vote. I think Both sides of Gay marriage are so polarized that they will vote the same way as before. The only difference will be there will be a new voting block of young voters this time. People may tell you they changed their mind, so not to have to argue with you, but don’t count on it. With or without advertisement there will be a heavy turn out because it is a presidential election year which might not be good for Same Sex Marriage. Maine is more conservative than four years ago. It only takes a slight shift on the top of the ticket to affect some referendums. That’s my guess only.
Yes, stcroixvic, you can “try this one more time,” but you can’t expect to fool anyone into opposing marriage equality no matter how many times you post foolish claims like “there will be a heavy turn out because it is a presidential election year which might not be good for Same Sex Marriage.” We know better, because anti-gays in North Carolina scheduled their anti-gay Hate Vote for the North Carolina Primary on May 8, which at the time was ONLY going to be for GOP candidates. If the anti-gays thought the high turnout of a Presidential election would be helpful to them, they would have scheduled their anti-gay Hate Vote on November 6.
And how about “Maine is more conservative than four years ago”? Can you document that? It seems much more likely that voters will be voting AGAINST all the right-wing nonsense from the GOP, since we’ve seen the GOP has NO interest in helping ANY Americans except their super-rich overlords. It doesn’t even make any sense for anti-gays to vote for the GOP, since the GOP never actually DOES any of the things the GOP promises to anti-gays. Remember how George W. Bush PROMISED a federal “Hatred and Fear of LGBT Americans And They Won’t Even Be Able To Visit Each Other In Hospitals” amendment? What happened to that, even with a strong majority of GOPers in BOTH houses of Congress 2001-2007?
“That’s my guess only.” More like wishful thinking.
Ok Carrotcakeman.
Maine is more conservative than four years ago: Fact The Maine House and Senate has changed to Rep. That’s the facts, I don’t care if the Gov is Rep or not. You say I am a bigot and belong to a Christian Cult: The Bible YOU supposedly read say’s you have to be saved or Born Again, and that’s between you and God. I don’t think advertisement will play a big part in the marriage election last time. I say there will be a big turnout because it’s a presidential election year. Voters will vote the way they want no matter how much you want them to vote your way (and they may). I never said Gay marriage won’t pass. I did say out of state money didn’t decide last election PEOPLE did. People on both sides of the issue is pretty Smart, and they don’t need a bunch of money telling them what to do. Most Gay marriage supporters that write in here are not tolerate of other views. Everyone is a bigot that disagrees with you. Remember when you point a finger at someone else is that you have four pointing at yourself. In closing ADs will not sway any votes next time. Everyone right now know how they will Vote. The silent majority will let you know in Nov. one way or the other. Not one state that has VOTED on Gay marriage has supported your cause. I believe one of the biggest reasons the Republicans won in the state House and Senate is because people where upset with the past government over the Gay marriage issue being forced (without a vote) down the voters throats. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
Why would anyone tolerate being denied their civil liberties. No need for a response, just making a point. Have a nice day filled with all of your birthrights.
It’s love that matters, to love is the greatest of all feats we can accomplish. To love is what we are judged by, it is forever. Those who think that same sex love is different in any way are wrong, love is the ultimate goal of living. Believe me.