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News & ArtsWednesday, May 6, 2009
Homo Maine: We Won
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Maine's Governor John E. Baldacci, who had been on the fence, just signed marriage equality into law.
“In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions,” Governor Baldacci said. “I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.”“Article I in the Maine Constitution states that ‘no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person’s civil rights or be discriminated against.’”
“This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State,” Governor Baldacci said.
“It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”
We're winning.
5
It's amazing. I think this is an encouraging sign that we will see movement on the federal level soon. Scoff all you want, but who would have thought we'd have marriage equality (from the legislature!) in Maine by 2009?
6
That's just fucking awesome. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and now Maine...the barriers to equality are falling like a row of evil dominoes.
10
Whoot Whoot! Way to Go Maine!
@4 Thanks now I have "Shes a MAINEiac, Shes a MAINEiac on the floor, and shes dancin like she never danced before..." stuck in my head.
@4 Thanks now I have "Shes a MAINEiac, Shes a MAINEiac on the floor, and shes dancin like she never danced before..." stuck in my head.
11
kudos to the governor for not making a quick reaction. he thought about the process, about the legal ramifications and chose to keep his personal feelings to the side.
12
Imposed is a better word and impositions are short lived. Hopefuly Mainers will overturn it in the referendum.
15
@10 So many good Maine puns. It's almost as annoying as going to a school who's initials are RU (R U Hungry as a pizza place, etc.)
16
That is great news. And to those who still resist it, it's called "civilization". Get used to it.
18
Looking at the marriage equality map, NH is going to feel somewhat out of place if the governor there doesn't sign their marriage equality bill. RI is going to have to get on board too.
20
He puts a jab in at the end though:
“Even as I sign this important legislation into law, I recognize that this may not be the final word,” Governor Baldacci said. “Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people.”
“While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do,” Governor Baldacci said.
“Even as I sign this important legislation into law, I recognize that this may not be the final word,” Governor Baldacci said. “Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people.”
“While the good and just people of Maine may determine this issue, my responsibility is to uphold the Constitution and do, as best as possible, what is right. I believe that signing this legislation is the right thing to do,” Governor Baldacci said.
21
@17 just wait until a state passes a *referendum* recognizing gay marriage and LC starts bitching about some silent majority and how liberals voters have imposed themselves upon everyone else.
22
Four down, forty-six to go. Forty-five, if Texas goes through with it's threat to secede. And we all know what a great fucking loss that would be to the union.
23
12, Your demographic has done more to harm family and marriage than gay people ever will. Maybe you should concentrate on fixing the rampant out of wedlock births in your demographic before you start passing judgments on other group's rights? (I know it's easier to blame gays for the sorry state of the family in your group, but really, step up and work on your group. Blaming us isn't going to fix it.)
25
actually, it'll be hilarious to hear all the right-wingers do a complete 180 and start using the gay rights movement's argument (our rights aren't subject to a popular vote) as ammo when polls start showing consistent and solid majorities in favor of gay marriage.
Because you know they'll just pick whichever argumentative tack happens to support their conclusion.
Because you know they'll just pick whichever argumentative tack happens to support their conclusion.
27
And he puts it exactly as it should be...
“It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”
Damn right!!!!
“It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.”
Damn right!!!!
28
Yay for Maine, and Yay for New England.
Now Washington State legislators....you gonna let them just show us up like that? Really? TIME TO REPRESENT WEST COAST STYLE. The East Coast is killing us when it comes to awesome equality. Come on West Coast! Let's do this! :)
Now Washington State legislators....you gonna let them just show us up like that? Really? TIME TO REPRESENT WEST COAST STYLE. The East Coast is killing us when it comes to awesome equality. Come on West Coast! Let's do this! :)
29
This makes me feel like crap. I just glared at a couple of girls for having a fucking screamfest over a text message in the college library - just got it through my moronic brain that they had found out they could get married.
But yeah go Maine! Now when's WA going to get itself together so my gf & I can make jump around in public like maniacs too?
But yeah go Maine! Now when's WA going to get itself together so my gf & I can make jump around in public like maniacs too?
30
I'm totally going to buy some lobster tonight! Go Maine!
Damn that activist legislature for passing laws. Who do they think they are, the governing body that makes laws? Oh...wait...How dare they do their job!
Damn that activist legislature for passing laws. Who do they think they are, the governing body that makes laws? Oh...wait...How dare they do their job!
32
You know, last year I was one of those Elton John style faggots, convinced the push should be for civil unions to get all the same rights quicker as they did successfully in Great Britain, and happy to pick on everyone who disagreed.
Boy, am I glad today for the greater bravery and insistence of all y'all who kept marriage equality your lodestar. This is all tremendous and wonderful, and will have knock-on effects far into the future, the better future for all us messes.
I'm damned if I'll ever give up my treasured hobag singlesse, but how wonderful to be free to change my mind if necessity strikes - if some finer love comes to me, or maybe just decrepitude.
So if I wore a hat, I'd tip it to ya. Thanks.
Boy, am I glad today for the greater bravery and insistence of all y'all who kept marriage equality your lodestar. This is all tremendous and wonderful, and will have knock-on effects far into the future, the better future for all us messes.
I'm damned if I'll ever give up my treasured hobag singlesse, but how wonderful to be free to change my mind if necessity strikes - if some finer love comes to me, or maybe just decrepitude.
So if I wore a hat, I'd tip it to ya. Thanks.
34
I'm so happy Dan. Maine in my death state. But we still can't forget the bad things that have happened, like the two buys who killed themselves and the other problems around the world.
35
I like that guy. I want to VOTE for that guy. I truly respect someone who can say (to the effect of) "I don't really like gay marriage, but it's wrong to deny anyone equal rights and protections." Yay, him. Yay, Maine.
BTW: still not winning. Won in Maine, yes. Winning in the US, not so much.
BTW: still not winning. Won in Maine, yes. Winning in the US, not so much.
36
@ 28...
Washington is representing in true West Coast style... Without a doubt acting in Seattle style
Accomplish nothing but talk.
Washington is representing in true West Coast style... Without a doubt acting in Seattle style
Accomplish nothing but talk.
37
35 said, "BTW: still not winning. Won in Maine, yes. Winning in the US, not so much."
Right? I don't get this "we're winning" and "we won" stuff. 4 or 5 states out of 50 isn't winning. Catching up? Maybe.
Right? I don't get this "we're winning" and "we won" stuff. 4 or 5 states out of 50 isn't winning. Catching up? Maybe.
38
We certainly are winning, but we aren't out of the woods yet. Maine law allows for a people's veto on laws enacted by the legislature. The opposition has 90 days to collect signatures to force the issue to a state wide referendum in November, I have no doubt that they will collect enough signatures, so the battle truly starts now and Equality Maine (www.equalitymaine.com) can use all the support they can get. It will be an up hill battle, but there is still a chance that we can come out ahead.
Regardless, today I am very proud to be a Mainer!
Regardless, today I am very proud to be a Mainer!
39
Think of it in this context @37: when the economy starts to get back on its feet again around the end of this year (keeping fingers tightly crossed), it will be reported as, "the economy is recovering". It doesn't have to get all the way back to pre-recession levels to be considered a "recovery", it just has to be moving in that direction. The same can be said for marriage equality; the fact that in the past couple of months three states and D.C. have all enacted ME legislation points to a movement in a positive direction, whereas before the trend was for states to pass laws actively banning GLBT's from legally getting married.
Hence, "we're winning" is appropriate in this context, since currently more states are passing laws in favor of ME, than are passing laws opposing it.
I have no idea what the "critical mass" number of states would have to be before Dan could say, with some degree of assurance, "we've won", since I think that will depend a great deal on how many states would have to enact ME legislation before the federal government was forced to step in (probably as a result of a Supreme Court case challenging a particular state's refusal to recognize the legal marriage status of a same-sex couple from another state), and realistically, it could be years before that happens. But, it's pretty clear which direction things are moving.
And it's that movement that is scaring the crap out of homophobes like Loveschild and her ilk; the writing is on the wall, but they're going to continue their inevitably futile efforts to scrub it off for as long as they can.
Hence, "we're winning" is appropriate in this context, since currently more states are passing laws in favor of ME, than are passing laws opposing it.
I have no idea what the "critical mass" number of states would have to be before Dan could say, with some degree of assurance, "we've won", since I think that will depend a great deal on how many states would have to enact ME legislation before the federal government was forced to step in (probably as a result of a Supreme Court case challenging a particular state's refusal to recognize the legal marriage status of a same-sex couple from another state), and realistically, it could be years before that happens. But, it's pretty clear which direction things are moving.
And it's that movement that is scaring the crap out of homophobes like Loveschild and her ilk; the writing is on the wall, but they're going to continue their inevitably futile efforts to scrub it off for as long as they can.
41
As far as the DC thing goes, if you want an effective argument to send to Congress, note to them that this represents no practical change in policy. DC already recognized domestic partnerships for purposes of taxes, inheritance, and the like (and benefits for city employees), so recognizing the marriage of a couple from out-of-state doesn't change anything in practical terms. It DOES actually create a higher standard for those who choose to have their out-of-state marriage recognized rather than simply register a domestic partner...so that's also convincing for the fence-sitters. Pragmatism to keep DC's decision on the books, kids! Don't let all the Congresspeople tell those of us who live here (the most disenfranchised city in the world) how to run our city!!! It's bad enough that they and ALL OF THEIR STAFF MEMBERS don't have to pay DC taxes and are exempted from EVERYTHING (right down to many parking regulations)!
44
Yes, it's fair and just and it's pro marriage, to have everybody able to marry. Yay for New England.
Pacific Northwest: not the most liberal region in the nation, it turns out. Lots of right wingers who want to mess in other people's lives, who are against freedom, and who want intrusive government sticking its nose into private affairs where it does not belong. What do the conservatives hate about freedom and liberty?
Pacific Northwest: not the most liberal region in the nation, it turns out. Lots of right wingers who want to mess in other people's lives, who are against freedom, and who want intrusive government sticking its nose into private affairs where it does not belong. What do the conservatives hate about freedom and liberty?
47
"On this point, I wanted to tell you guys about a discussion I had with a friend a couple of days ago about ERW....
So, I met up with a friend I used to work with who was laid off by ERW [recently]. He was actually XXXXX's direct supervisor until that point, a Field Organizer. We talked for several hours and he just totally went off on ERW top-down organizing style.
Part of his job was to try and organize things with smaller groups around the state. He told me that the problem is that ERW continually fucks people over because they're only really concerned with where the money is coming from, though they put up a front that they want to help the community. As an effect, he said that he'd have people from these different community groups calling him all the time cussing him out because ERW would last minute decide that plans with a certain group weren't profitable, and would just get the order to ditch out on them. He said that it felt like 80% of the groups they would work with would be so angry at them, because they were really only worried about the most profitable 20%: the big donaters.
He also said that he felt bad for the people that worked there because they're massively overworked and underpaid, working on average 60 hours a week, and more during big events. The bosses don't listen to the suggestions of any of the volunteers, but give orders to them based upon the wants of those with the dollars.
So basically I'm saying that our assessment of ERW as a top-down, conservative organization is pretty accurate, straight from the horse's mouth itself. Should we still work with them, yes. But should we be prepared for them to fuck us over if we can't bring them money? Yes. Let's just be as careful with them as possible. This is why I personally prefer a grassroots approach in which all of our opinions are valid and help shape the outward focus of the groups' activities. We're not tied down to donations, and they are. This is also why they're not prepared to "rock the boat", and why we have a very important role to play in building this movement."
More...
So, I met up with a friend I used to work with who was laid off by ERW [recently]. He was actually XXXXX's direct supervisor until that point, a Field Organizer. We talked for several hours and he just totally went off on ERW top-down organizing style.
Part of his job was to try and organize things with smaller groups around the state. He told me that the problem is that ERW continually fucks people over because they're only really concerned with where the money is coming from, though they put up a front that they want to help the community. As an effect, he said that he'd have people from these different community groups calling him all the time cussing him out because ERW would last minute decide that plans with a certain group weren't profitable, and would just get the order to ditch out on them. He said that it felt like 80% of the groups they would work with would be so angry at them, because they were really only worried about the most profitable 20%: the big donaters.
He also said that he felt bad for the people that worked there because they're massively overworked and underpaid, working on average 60 hours a week, and more during big events. The bosses don't listen to the suggestions of any of the volunteers, but give orders to them based upon the wants of those with the dollars.
So basically I'm saying that our assessment of ERW as a top-down, conservative organization is pretty accurate, straight from the horse's mouth itself. Should we still work with them, yes. But should we be prepared for them to fuck us over if we can't bring them money? Yes. Let's just be as careful with them as possible. This is why I personally prefer a grassroots approach in which all of our opinions are valid and help shape the outward focus of the groups' activities. We're not tied down to donations, and they are. This is also why they're not prepared to "rock the boat", and why we have a very important role to play in building this movement."
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