Help Defeat Maine's Anti-Gay Ballot Initiative on Marriage

categories: Gay Marriage, LGBT Legislation, LGBT Rights and Politics, Marriage Equality, Nonprofit Profiles, State LGBT News

Published August 13, 2009 @ 04:11AM PT

Maine Freedom to Marry

In many ways I guess you could say that Maine is the new California. Conservative activists - fueled in large part by Maine's Catholic Church - have placed an initiative on the state's ballot that would repeal marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples in Maine. It's almost like rehashing Proposition 8 all over again.

Except this time, we can win.

Maine Freedom to Marry, the coalition behind stopping this anti-LGBT madness, has just relaunched their Web site and is urging people on all fronts to take the pledge and oppose what in Maine will become known simply as question "1". Voting yes on question 1 will strip away the civil rights of gays and lesbians to get married in Maine (boo!). Voting no on quesiton 1 will keep those rights in place (yay!).

What does taking the pledge against 1 mean? Well, from Maine Freedom to Marry's snazzy new Web site...

On May 6, 2009 Maine ended discrimination in marriage for same-sex couples. This victory was the result of thousands of people who came forward to support marriage for all Maine families. The legislature and Governor followed the people's lead and passed this landmark legislation.

But the fight is not over. Opponents of marriage equality want to turn back the clock. They are working to place a measure on the ballot - modeled after California's Prop 8 - to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry in Maine.

This November, voters will be asked:

"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?"

Answer: Vote NO on 1.

Now I think that's a pledge we can all make.

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Comments (7)

You know Michael,

What the hell is WRONG with these Secretaries of State? I see a total Prop 8 redux coming. Why? Because of the wording! The wording absolutely confused the hell out of people here in California.

Just like in California No means Yes and Yes means No - to marriage equality that is. Why couldn't the SoS word it differently instead of "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?" word it "Do you want to retain (or keep) the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

This type of wording wouldn't confuse anyone as YES would mean YES!

Posted by Dave Hershey on 08/13/2009 @ 11:33AM PT
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It's unfortunate that intolerant conservatives have put a ballot to gamble on the necessary right of same-sex marriage. However, it's good that Maine Freedom to Marry has made their website a resource to fight against the ballot. While the Maine Catholic Church supports oppression, the greatness of LGBT equality is superior to what the Maine Catholic Church is doing. In November, there must be a win to protect a right which in most states is lacking.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 08/13/2009 @ 02:47PM PT
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I gladly make such a pledge.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 08/13/2009 @ 07:19PM PT
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The wording.... Here we go again...

What we must not fall prey to is letting our opponents use children as a shield for their bigotry like they did in California. If they use children again, which they probably will, we must emphasize that they are wrong... but will it cost us in time an effort, to help others understand the wording? It doesn't matter if we disprove their bullshit. If people cant understand what the moronic secretary of state describes then this battle is as good as lost.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 08/14/2009 @ 08:47AM PT
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The biggest contribution would be to take the wording that is slanted in one direction, and define it in terms that your average high-school educated voter can understand - while, at the same time, letting it be understood that a "no" vote will not take anything away from the voters.

Scare tactics are always being used. Sense and sensibility, brought to individuals on a personal level, should win out.

Yes, I said, "High-school education". If their sons and daughters can understand the terminology and can relate these terms to their parents, sometimes the parents learn from their kids at least as much as the kids, their parents. Sometimes.

Posted by Maxine Mesko on 08/16/2009 @ 11:56AM PT
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I can't speak for Californians, but I grew up (partly) in Maine, and I know that "Vacationland," as its license plates attest, is well-known for Yankee ingenuity and rugged individualism. Back in the '80s, they voted against Ed Meese's anti-porn crusade becoming the law of the land, and I feel pretty certain they'll vote no on Question 1. Come on, Maine, show us what you're made of again!

Posted by William Feagin on 08/16/2009 @ 03:10PM PT
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It's all in the wording and it's meant to be a little confusing. After seeing what happened where I live in California, I sent a pledge to the No on 1 campaign.

Maine will show us they're for equality, I'm sure of it.

Posted by Ray Iadanza on 08/16/2009 @ 08:59PM PT
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Author

Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.