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Maine Affirms Right Of Gays, Lesbians To Marry

John Baldacci, the Governor of Maine, has signed a law legalizing gay marriage.

"I have followed closely the debate on this issue," Baldacci said. "I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully. I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste."

The move represents a change in the governor's thinking. "In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," 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."

The new law also affirms that no particular church has to recognize a marriage that does not conform to its beliefs, and that no church is required to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Baldacci is the first governor to sign a same-sex marriage bill in absence of a preceding court decision, though there were other pressures. In late 2008, the Maine Marriage Alliance announced it would lead an effort to pass an amendment to the Maine Constitution that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.


32 Comments

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I congratulate Maine's governor and the people of Maine. When empathetic people realize that this is a question of constitutional rights, of equality, they come around.

Maybe this will put pressure on New Hampshire’s governor to sign his state legislature’s bill, too.

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This is fantastic. The amount of progress in just the last month on this has been breathtaking.

What I want to know is, how many states have to do this before it starts leaking into the mainstream public consciousness that the Federal government isn't recognizing any of these marriages?

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2 more: NY & CA After that, the snowball's momentum will be inexorable.

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Two of Mr. Obomba’s potential Supreme Court nominees are openly gay; some “advocates”, irked that there are no gay men or lesbians in his cabinet, are mounting a campaign to influence his choice to replace Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring. Yeah that is the benchmark for a SC nominee!

Same-sex marriage is trying to advance in states which does not make it a good thing but homosexuals think their time is due — the latest to allow it is Maine — and a new flare-up in the District of Columbia could ultimately put the controversy in the lap of the president. Doesn’t this just make you want to puke? “Advocates” for Man Loves Dog and Woman Engaged to Cat” are out there pushing this as well. If enough states tire out on keeping America safe and focused on moral points of reference, the man/sheep marriage “activists“ will be right behind.

If that makes headway, the “activist” pedophiles will have a clean shot at “equal & Imoral rights” within the constitution because the policies and courts will have changed the compass setting of who we are at a people, and a civilized nation.
Mr. Obomab’s new global health initiative has infuriated “activists” who say he is not financing AIDS programs generously enough. And while the president has urged Congress to pass a hate crimes bill, a high priority for gay groups, pushes from “activists” and political threats have found their way into the negotiating and bargaining process, he has delayed action on one of his key campaign promises, repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule.

The onslaught of you had better do it or we gays will make your life miserable has been clearl documnted and covered by a few honest journalists. We say Leave it alone – this world is not all about “YOU” man on man and woman on woman, as well as man on sheep.

Social issues like same-sex marriage bring together deeply held principles and flashpoint politics, and many gay activists have for years taken it upon themselves to batter, gift, donate, pledge campaign support in order to show “how normal they are” which is an oxy-moron – sad to say that this is what takes up time instead of settling the confict in the mideast with a real strategy and plan.

No, they need to talk with some “activist” and get their spin before they try to come up with a decision- they will wait for months on end while they poll and survey and gather input. Being politically correct is way more important than leading the country

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ESAD
I fear you are showing your prejudice, and lack of knowledge. Between derisive name calling, and failure to look at other western societies that have legalized same sex marriage where none of your predictions have come to pass, to my mind anyway , you appear to be a bit uninformed. Might you be able to substantiate your claims objectively?

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Hells yes!

I wonder when the GOP will start comparing this trend to the Domino Theory of Communism as a way to ward of more equality.

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*off

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Score one for America.

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This is the kind of thing that makes me grateful to be alive. Even in quite recent years I would have bet money that I'd never live to see marriage equality in even one state, let alone several. You can almost feel resistance crumbling by the hour.

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I would like to send Maine some flowers and acknowlegde that great things sometimes do come in small packages! Congratulations on sending a message of sanity amidst a whirlwind of chaotic consequential blather...

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Four down, forty-six more to go.

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Hi Mike. I think it is actually five now. And hopefully CA will get it right soon.

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I guess kinda sort. Mass, Iowa and Conn allow it as of now. Vermont's law takes affect in September.

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Let's not forget that the reason CA does not allow same sex marriage was because of all the African Americans and Hispanics (who actually tend to be more socially conservative) who voted for Obama.

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It wasn't blacks or hispanics, it was old people who passed Prop h8 in California. A majority of younger African Americans voted no.

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I was born in Maine and have lived here all of my 38 years of my life, and I have never been prouder of my home state.

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Bravo, Maine!

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I am POSITIVE were Prop. 8 reintroduced on a ballot, CA would support gay marriage. The ballot itself was funky, not to mention the Mormon church interference. That being said, wow, what a difference a few years can make. This is becoming such a non-issue: an issue the Democrats are on the right side of, imagine! We can now almost use it as a wedge issue!

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This is so true. Coming out against gay marriage forces you into a corner.

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Excellent news for Maine. Now if Governor Lynch would get off his ass and signed the marriage bill into law, every state except Rhode Island will have same sex marriage.

Still, who thought gays can get married in Iowa as well, outstanding. Also I used to be opposed to same sex marriage. I used to think that it should just between a man and a woman, but after seeing pictures of gays being married, witnessing the artocity of the Catholic and Mormon churches dumping 25 million dollars to oppose prop-8 and watch Milk and seeing that bitch Anita Bryant. I made the decsion to support this because this just isn't about marriage or being entitled to your partners thing, but IT'S ABOUT OUR GODDAMN CIVIL RIGHTS. that's what this is about, our civil rights and right now in most states a group of being are being denied their civil rights and this all needs to change.

I'm glad this country (atleast the northeast) are going in the right direction, I only hope the rest of the union will follow.

God bless America.

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Equal Rights for all has taken hold thru gay rights. This is great news and brightens our country's outlook and future! I hope this keeps on sweeping across the country so in a generation; people can laugh at how crazy it used to be when politicians used to ban people in love from marrying or forming civil unions.

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I saw this quote, and they just don't get it. Religion has no place in politics. No wonder they are a dying party.

"Republican Sen. Debra Plowman of Hampden argued that the bill was being passed "at the expense of the people of faith."

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Perhaps we should ban Republican marriage, so idiots like that don't reproduce and pass their bigotry on to the next generation.

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As a Maine citizen, I have to say I am proud of John Baldacci and the Maine legislature! It is a great day for the Pine Tree State and a great day for America.

SG

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Apparently the first state to legalize same-sex marriage without any previous court action.

Now, on to Rhode Island and NY.

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Well it won't happen in NY this legislative session because a backroom deal was made in the NY Senate that I believe two or three Democrats (they control a slim majority in the chamber) agreed to remain Democrats if the leadership dosen't bring up a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage.

Rhode Island I have no clue about, I assume their not too far down the road either.

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I am against gay marriage but for civil unions. To see the utter joy people get when they find out these bills are passed kind of..suprises me. It makes me rethink my views on the subject.

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It should. Civil unions are separate-but-equal at best (usually not even that), and as we all know, separate-but-equal never is.

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What took them so long?

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Governor Bradford and his city set on a hill shine again. Gotta luv those Puritan New Englanders,,,,, whudda thunk it?

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Oregon and Washington may be next - or soon!

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This may well be the unintended blowback towards the out-of-state supporters and lobbyists who succeeded in the prop 8 affair in California. Their petty, prejudiced, blatant, and vindictive positions, arguments, and actions have made it easier for others in other states to counter such sentiments and not suffer their own conscience, or the criticism from others.

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