Mountain GLBTQ Group

Gay marriage appears in danger of losing in Maine
Nov 4 12:22 AM US/Eastern
By GLENN ADAMS and DAVID CRARY
Associated Press Writers

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Gay marriage appeared in danger in Maine in a closely watched referendum Tuesday that the nation's gay rights movement had hoped would yield a breakthrough victory at the ballot box.

Voters were asked to decide whether to repeal or affirm a state law that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

With 481 of 608 precincts reporting, the pro-repeal side had 52 percent to 48 percent for gay-marriage's supporters.

A vote to uphold the law would mark the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage. That could energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will of the public.

However, repeal—in New England, the region of the country most supportive of gay couples—would be another heartbreaking defeat for the marriage-equality movement, following the vote against gay marriage in California a year ago.

It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed a gay-marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians rejected same-sex marriage, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.

Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout seemed higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest appeared intense. Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people—out of about 1 million registered voters—had voted by absentee ballot or early voting.

Frank Schubert, organizer for the campaign to repeal gay marriage, said a victory by his side would be a "backbreaking loss" for gay-rights activists, given the heavy mobilization and fundraising efforts put into their campaign.

Jesse Connolly, manager for the pro-gay marriage campaign, said the results bore out his prediction of a "razor thin" election.

"At the end of the day we're going to see a positive result," he said late Tuesday. "We might not see that tonight. It might be tomorrow."

Five other states have legalized gay marriage—Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut—but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

"If we don't win, then Maine will have its place in infamy because no state has ever voted for homosexual marriage," said Chuck Schott of Portland, who stood near a polling place in Maine's biggest city with a pro-repeal campaign sign.

Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was "very torn" but decided—despite her conservative upbringing—to vote in favor of letting gays marry.

"They love and they have the right to love. And we can't tell somebody how to love," said Holman, 26.

Hundreds of gay-marriage supporters gathered in a Portland hotel ballroom in the evening to await the results. On display was a three-tiered wedding cake topped with two grooms on one side, two brides on the other, and the words "We All Do."

In addition to reaching out to young people who flocked to the polls for President Barack Obama a year ago, gay-marriage defenders tried to appeal to Maine voters' independent streak—a Yankee spirit of fairness and live-and-let-live.

The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims—disputed by state officials—that the new law would mean "homosexual marriage" would be taught in public schools.

Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of gay marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million, compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state decided whether to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted rights as heterosexual married couples. And in Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Among other ballot items across the country:

—In Ohio, voters approved a measure that will allow casinos in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. Four similar measures had been defeated in recent years, but this time the state's reeling economy gave extra weight to arguments that the new casinos would create thousands of jobs.

—Maine voters defeated a measure that would have limited state and local government spending by holding it to the rate of inflation plus population growth. A similar measure was on the ballot in Washington state.

—Another measure in Maine, which easily won approval, will allow dispensaries to supply marijuana to patients for medicinal purposes. It is a follow-up to a 1999 measure that legalized medical marijuana but did not set up a distribution system.

—The Colorado ski town of Breckenridge voted overwhelmingly to allow adults to legally possess small amounts of marijuana.

We will fight this till the end of time, only hope that Legislation won’t make me wait that long. People can only hold the tide of change for so long. And no wonder we loose when another State can spread FEAR propaganda with their $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$,compared to our $
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ now where did I put my meds and vitamins?

"And no wonder we loose when another State can spread FEAR propaganda with their $"

Utah?

You guessed it!!!UTAH, Land of, WE are the only ones that get to go to heaven where MEN are Gods, and the women are essentially left bare foot and pregnant yet again.Heres a funny one the men think their divorced wives are part of this harem in their heaven, Oh yeah! Like that will be the day, hardly. I think they will all be holding a blender and not throw that tiny piece of meat out the window. May want to think twice with a divorced wife!!!And another funny, when they get divorced they call the ex wife and ask for her blessing and approval as if she would give a damn, we are. still laughing and still happy while he’s now on a third wife and funny how he expects all these women to make the money and provide for him, now he lives with a mother in-law (her house)guess Karma kicked his butt…

Wonder why so many are afraid of us were not even showing up in here? How not in your face can you get??????????