Maine Newspapers Agree: Let Gays Marry

categories: 2009 Election, Gay Marriage, Marriage Equality, No on 1, State LGBT News

Published October 18, 2009 @ 05:58AM PT

Marriage Equality

In just over two weeks, voters will head to the polls in Maine and decide whether or not same-sex marriage will be allowed to stay legal in the state, or whether right-wing pundits and religious leaders will succeed in scaling back civil rights for gay and lesbian couples. The question voters will decide -- Question 1, officially -- asks Maine voters this:

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?

The No on 1 campaign, which is leading the fight in the state to protect marriage equality, is doing a bang up job. Through this week they were on television more than opponents, and have responded with amazing fundraising prowess (thanks to the netroots!). That's all the more important because in Maine, the official Roman Catholic Church has decided to make fighting gays and lesbians the bread and butter of their faith this year, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to help pass the discriminatory ballot measure known as Question 1.

Poll numbers show a tight race, and that marriage equality advocates cannot let up (all the more so now that early voting has started).

One set of good news? Two major Maine newspapers have come out on behalf of equality. The first is the Bangor Daily News, one of the larger papers in the state. They have an absolute kick ass editorial this weekend on why Mainers should preserve the rights of gays and lesbians to marry. And the editorial delivers a sucker punch right into the mid-section of the Maine Catholic Church, which has tried to paint gays and lesbians as destabilizing threats to the common good. Check out the money line:

"The repeal effort has been led by the Roman Catholic Diocese. Bishop Richard Malone called same-sex marriage 'a dangerous sociological experiment.' The fact that gay couples have existed for generations — many of them raising children — counters this argument," the paper said. "Worse, however, is the church’s attempt to force its views on all Maine’s residents, whether they are Catholic or not."

The paper goes on to point out that Maine's governor who signed marriage equality into law, Gov. John Baldacci, is a Catholic. How's that for some equal rights irony?

The second paper this weekend to come out strongly on behalf of marriage equality in Maine is the Maine Sunday Telegram, Maine's statewide Sunday newspaper. And like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, here are a few of our favorite things from this editorial:

"Limiting marriage to a man and a woman would not make families led by same-sex couples go away. It would just keep them in a legally inferior position that is inconsistent with Maine's tradition of equal protection under the law."

"[Marriage equality opponents] argue that extending the rights and responsibilities of civil marriage to families headed by same-sex couples would have broad effects throughout society. We have listened to their arguments, but we just don't buy them."

"Families led by same-sex partners are here now. They are part of our communities and they need and deserve the legal protections – as well as the dignity – that comes with civil marriage status. Maine voters should recognize that even if their personal beliefs about marriage haven't changed, reality has. They should accept reality and vote "no" on Question 1."

Aren't those lines amazing? It's almost as if marriage equality advocates couldn't ask for better editorials. But then again, the editorials just reflect reality. And that reality is that opponents of marriage equality will go to any length and pursue any bogus argument to try and discriminate against gays and lesbians.

Maine's newspapers are starting to get that opponents of marriage equality don't have much to argue with other than hate. Here's hoping Maine voters think the same thing when they cast their ballots.

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Comments (18)

Excellent :)

Those newspaper articles were very well put.

I especially like how it points out that the governor is catholic.

I suppose that the catholic church will never truly learn its lesson. They will eventually figure out that hating us doesn't get them anywhere, and they'll just quietly forget about us for the most part, and focus in on some new minority, or new product, band, etc. to mark as their banner for hate.

It has been proven (at least to my mind) that as a species, we (humans) need something to hate. It doesn't really matter what, but there must be something.

As the saying goes, put 2 people together and they'll be friends, add a third, and the first 2 will find a reason to hate him.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/18/2009 @ 09:31AM PT
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Oh good! I see that Mr. Villa's attempts at trying to answer this have been deleted. However in case you are reading this:

Mr. Villa,

It is the straights who ram their sexuality down our throats. The vast majority of entertainment is heterosexually-oriented. We see you getting married (and all-too-often divoced. It is heterosexuality that is flaunted in the face of all gay people. It goes on and on and on, from cradle to grave. You have some nerve coming in here spewing your hate. I am sorry for you that you cannot see the beauty of two human beings loving one another and wanting to show that love by getting married.

You are the intruder, sir, coming into the gay rights forum and spewing your vile, barely-literate rantings. And by the way, learn to make sure the caps lock key on your computer is set you don't type in all caps. It makes you look even more ignorant than your posts have shown you to be.

By the way, I suggest that you invest in some strong psychotropic medication such as Thorazine. You need it!

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/18/2009 @ 11:58AM PT
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I missed ramon ?

Damn...

I would have loved another chance to piss in his cheerios. :(

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/18/2009 @ 12:35PM PT
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I love it when the truth comes out and both of those papers rock for telling it like it is. :)

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/18/2009 @ 12:34PM PT
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Don't you know it!!

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/18/2009 @ 01:19PM PT
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It's great that two major newspapers in Maine support the very important right of same-sex marriage. It's a fact that opponents of same-sex marriage don't have a credible reason against that very important right and with that, LGBT rights is superior to the intolerance which is spewed against LGBT rights. The No on 1 campaign is also doing a great job so that people will vote no on the ballot to protect the bill which would recognize same-sex marriage in Maine.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/18/2009 @ 02:24PM PT
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I am currently enrolled in the University of Maine system and I am working alongside friends and members of the No on 1 campaign to help bring clarity about question 1 on the ballot and to help promote people to vote no on 1 on November 3rd.

Even though Connecticut is my homestate, which allows gay marriage btw, I hope to see gay couples in Maine keep their right to marry and not have it taken away from them just because homophobic government officials and residents are scared the meaning of marriage will be "corrupted." Love is love and sexual orientation or any other factor should not be made an issue when dealing with love and marriage.

Posted by Caitlin Schmedlin on 10/18/2009 @ 03:03PM PT
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Thank you for doing whats right.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 01:11AM PT
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Thank you, Caitlin for your efforts on the behalf of marriage equality. I agree with you, "Love is love."

I DARE any of the homophobes that come on here to say that my love for my spouse is in any way inferior to the love of a heterosexual for his or her. It is just as strong, just as deep, just as moral as heterosexual love. If you are not comfortable with that, then deal with it, but it is no reason not to allow marriage equality.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/19/2009 @ 03:10AM PT
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I could never see my local newspaper doing that. They still refer to gay people as "homosexuals." It burns me up. I refuse to buy the paper. Anytime we have a gay rights speaker come to town, they call them a "homosexual-rights advocate." Ugh.

Go Maine! Vote NO on 1!

Posted by Courtney C............ on 10/19/2009 @ 06:57AM PT
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Miss c...

I would think that using the term homosexual is more respectfull than the term gay simply because it recognises that heterosexuality isnt the only sexual orientation in existance...

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 09:55AM PT
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I agree with Courtney. It is like the term Negro. Thomas, I do not say much to you because I thought you knew better... However you too don't see the negativity used behind that word.

Our enemies use lines like: "the homosexuals are going to indoctrinate our children with their perverse lifestyle." "The homosexuals are a threat to our nation and our family." "If homosexuals are allowed their rights, then whats not to say we will allow rights to thieves, rapist, murders, and people who sleep with their St. Bernard."

Key word: "homosexuals", and "the homosexuals." It has come to a point where doctors wont even say the word homosexual, or even "homosexual people" for fear of upsetting their LGBT clients and causing them to not trust in their abilities as a doctor. The reason why this happens is because the word homosexual has been used for the last fifty years to introduce polite bigotry, like Negro and colored was reinvented and introduced to disgrace African American people and their humanity.

That is why I use the words "homosexual people", or "people who are homosexual" when I write, but rarely, and often just write LGBT. Another reason I also incorporate LGBT is because those who are bisexual, and/or transgendered also face just as much discrimination, if not more, than lesbians and gays. Also, not including people who are bisexual or transgendered leaves them left out and feeling alienated by equal rights activist such as yourself. Too often do I hear resentment, mistrust, and disgust from people who are bisexual and transgendered because they feel there is a severe lack of representation. Which of course is very true.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/20/2009 @ 11:58AM PT
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My apologies then to courtney and you mr. marshall as well as all who are in the LGBT community.

I cant promise that I wont slip up from time to time but I can promise to try and retrain my reflexes to use the more acceptable and inclusive term.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/20/2009 @ 01:36PM PT
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Thank you Thomas. It means alot.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/20/2009 @ 02:49PM PT
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Great for those newspapers. I Think it would be a great idea to interview a Gay couple and have them tell the world how happy they are. We often hear stories of Straight married couples and how happy they are and on their advice on how to stay married. It would be a refreshing change of pace for a gay couple to be an example on love and advice giving.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/19/2009 @ 08:22AM PT
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Yep and theres no reason why a heterosexual couple couldnt learn from them.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 09:56AM PT
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Good news: Considering about 90% of all elections and campaigns are won by the side that spent the most money (which in and of itself is not necessarily good news, but...) No On 1 (NO1) has raised a whopping 2.7 million dollars. Mean while "Stand for Marriage Maine" (SFMM) the supporters of Question 1 have only raised 1.1 million.

source: http://www.dirigoblue.com/diary/487/no-on-1-raises-26m-in-3rd-quarter

Another thing worthy of note is that SFMM has received a much bigger portion of its funds from large organizations such as the Catholic and Mormon Churches, while NO1 has received far more from individual donors.

While both sides have received numerous donations from beyond the state borders, both have conceded that this is a non-issue. For those unfamiliar with Maine's tenacious independent spirit... it would in other cases play a major role.

"As Maine goes, so goes the nation." - popular expression.

"Dirigo" - Maine state motto. Latin for "I lead."

I'm hoping my state will play the tipping point yet again on the national level.

Posted by Jeremy Keith Hammond on 10/19/2009 @ 08:47AM PT
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I agree mr. hammond.

I too hope that the majority of maine citizenry will stand up and do the right thing by voting no on 1.

Thank you for sharing that info sir.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/19/2009 @ 09:59AM PT
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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.