"Stand"

It's time to promise a fair and equal future for all Maine families.
http://www.protectmaineequality.org/stand

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News & Politics

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• marriage
• equality
• question 1
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• families
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• maine
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[muellerican]

Strengthening Civil Unions Nationwide is not the answer to what went on in ME and CA. Half of America already have Constitutional Bans on SSM AND CU. There's gotta be another way. ME Equal Rights activists shoudn't have participated in a referendum in the first place, they should have taken the issue to the Supreme Court because Civil Rights should not be put to a vote. Christians need to step off public policy. Who's next? Jews?

[penguinpopsicle]

I'm sorry you feel that way.

But the thing is, it's impossible for gay couples who have had lasting relationships to have full participation in society, as there are like 1000-something federal benefits that are available to married couples. Why exactly are they not qualified anyway?

[freakylocz14]

At least they showed actual homosexuals. California didn't.

[MikuruBeamu]

Notice something? They never allow comments on anti-gay videos. That just goes to show how many people disagree with them.

[RavenBlaze]

@muellerican what I find to be really funny is these "marriage protection" people are only protecting it from SSM and not from divorce. If they really care, why aren't they trying to pass laws that require pre-marriage counciling or pre-divorce counciling? Or pushing to ban divorce?

[victimofcheese]

The voters, the people of Maine, spoke OVERWHELMINGLY. Mass is a short drive away. Go home and quit infecting our state.

[York22]

It seems only in the United States we allow the people to vote on other's civil rights. In no other country were same sex marriage or civil unions have been legalized has there been on vote to approve or ban it. Civil rights should never be up for a vote. Should poll taxes and the rights of african-americans to vote in the south or any other state have been subject to a referendum or interracial marriage or school integration?

[AscottW]

Well. That's a good thing. Maybe, at least, it'll make it more difficult for NOM to attack VT. My main point here is, we need to change strategies if we are to even gain a footing. We're being knocked off every time we try to stand. Something has to change.

[mmhoover1]

AscottW

At least VT does not have a referendum process, unlike Maine. According to someone who should know...who is a woman with Vermont Freedom to Marry who wrote me back on my concerns for VT. She said that the dynamics in VT are different from that in Maine, not having a referendum process that enemies of equality iike NOM can more readily exploit. But she did agree that the other New England states should be vigilant all the same.

[AscottW]

Having seen the defeats in Maine and California, and the planned fights in VT and IA. Would you approve of a measure that would expand domestic partnership rights to include those of marriage except that it would not be labeled as marriage by the [state in which you live] I approve: would mean granting equal rights to same-sex couples in your state save the word marriage I reject: Would reject granting equal rights to same-sex couples in your state save the word marriage. How would you vote?

[AscottW]

Well, muellerican, I am really sorry you feel the way you do. I cannot argue with any of that as that is your preference. I however, must say that I do not believe it is helpful to the LGBT community to be solely focused on a word. Nor, do I believe it is helpful for you to feel angst towards people knowing that you are gay or bisexual. I can only hope, for the sake of those who want at least some rights for the time being, that a majority of people do not think the way you do about this.

[muellerican]

Marriage isn't a Civil Union. I am indeed all or nothing. To me it's not about upgrading to marriage (like what you seem to suggest) but I'm mainly concerned on privacy. If I'm in a Civil Union everyone will know I'm gay or bi. That's nobody's business! It's about privacy and individualism. It's also about religious freedom plenty of synagogues, churches and pagodas accross the USA are currently celebrating same-sex marriages and calling it that way...marriages.