PORTLAND, Maine – Maine voters repealed a state law Tuesday that would have allowed same-sex couples to wed, dealing the gay rights movement a heartbreaking defeat in New England, the corner of the country most supportive of gay marriage.
Gay marriage has now lost in every single state — 31 in all — in which it has been put to a popular vote. Gay-rights activists had hoped to buck that trend in Maine — known for its moderate, independent-minded electorate — and mounted an energetic, well-financed campaign.
With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, gay-marriage foes had 53 percent of the votes.
"The institution of marriage has been preserved in Maine and across the nation," declared Frank Schubert, chief organizer for the winning side.
Sad, so sad. What happened to the "moderate, independent-minded electorate"? And Frank Schubert, will you have no more divorce in Maine? Is the next step to outlaw divorce? I never knew of a gay marriage that destroyed another marriage, but I know of a good many marriages that were "destroyed" by divorce.
From Joe Sudbay at Americablog:
And, then, there's Maine where hate prevailed. The Bishop of Maine, Richard Malone, must be quite pleased with himself. He ran a campaign of lies, hate and distortions -- and convinced enough Maine voters to vote with him. It's going to take me a couple days (or more) to get my head around this one. But, for now, suffice it so say: HATE was the winner in Maine. Hate and the Catholic Bishop. But, this isn't over. Time and justice really are on our side.
Joe Sudbay is right. Although it's difficult to believe his final words this morning, what he says is true.
Well the one marriage that should be outlawed is that between the RC Church and the Mormon Church. The repeal of the marriage equality in Maine is ninety percent the work of that marriage. What a sad, sad, day.
ReplyDeleteNot "across the nation" -- Kalamazoo and Washington State did the right thing.
ReplyDeleteMay Godde bless the RCC and the Morg with the knowledge that we are all created in Godde's image and are to love all and judge none! And the folks who think that Fox News and the Republicans are Godde's voice on earth... shudder. How can people ever learn if they have fingers in ears and eyes covered per instruction from their earthly masters? No freedom in that sort of religion.
ReplyDeleteJames, indeed. A long time ago, when I was growing up in the RCC, the Mormons were seen as beyond the pale, and now the RCC and the Mormons are close allies. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnn, Schubert's entire statement is absurd, because marriage has not been preserved. However, in Washington, the referendum was about "everything-but-marriage", and in Kalamazoo, the vote had to do with non-discrimination against gays, so gay-marriage was not up for a vote. It's good that the votes went the right way, but it's still not equality.
Piskie, I veer between hope and despair.
I know it is not the same - but still a win in a dark day. Sorry for good news?
ReplyDeleteNo Ann, I'm not sorry for good news. Progress is progress. Still, I can't help but think of separate but equal, in which separate is never equal.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember that it's razor thin even in Washington where the issue is partnerships, not the M-word. It is not, and never has been, about marriage. It's about hate.
ReplyDeleteAs shown by Pam at the Blend the bad guys hate us.
The hog [homophobia] is going to die. Hate alone cannot sustain that beast.
ReplyDeleteIT, I agree, but Pam speaks truth in the quote above.
I wonder what these folks think they have won, and won so narrowly.
ReplyDeleteIT, you are right, the margin in Washington is thin and we are keeping our fingers crossed. The bill might not have used the M word, but that is how the no-voters saw it. So I am cautiously optimistic where western Washington is concerned. (The current projection is 52-48). More and more people are seeing it as a matter of rights, not morals.
ReplyDeleteCounterlight, how true. What have they won? They've made a good many people unhappy. If that is their pleasure, then that's what they've won. Heterosexual marriage was a mess yesterday, and it is still a mess today.
ReplyDeleteAs I said elsewhere, I believe that equal rights for LGTB folks across the country will come through the courts, not through legislation, just as happened with integration. That's probably a long time away, so for now, we move along state by state and make what gains we can.
Today's Cheers and Jeers quotes Bishop Gene Robinson: "We're in this for the long haul. Keep your energy up and your focus clear. We can be in it for the long haul because we know how this is gonna end: full equality."
ReplyDeletePaul (A.), those are good words from Bishop Gene. Still, "How long, O Lord...?" My emotions are like a yo-yo today.
ReplyDelete"My emotions are like a yo-yo today."
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed, but I'm not despairing. I've been down this path many times. I don't want to minimize the hurt and the grief people rightly feel now, but I can remember back to Anita Bryant days. Local anti-gay initiatives, even in "liberal" areas, won for years by overwhelming margins of 15 to 20 percentage points. We forget that Harvey Milk had his political career in a still very gay hostile San Francisco with a hostile political establishment and police force probably expressing the feelings of a largely hostile population.
That these losses are by ever narrower margins is remarkable compared to where we were 20 years ago. I seriously doubt racial minorities faced with a similar ballot box opposition could have made similar progress.
I'm afraid that our best hope for lasting change will be through the courts, not the ballot box. Yes, the federal court system has been entirely remade by 30 years of conservative rule. But, it was the Rehnquist Supreme Court (no friend to liberals) that finally ended the criminal status of gay men in every state. The courts need to rule definitively that the 14th Amendment applies to LGBTs, and that will stick no matter what electorates decide to do or undo.
Counterlight, you give me hope. Initially, upon hearing bad news or good news, my emotions run away with me, but eventually I settle down before I go completely over the edge - most of the time.
ReplyDeleteI keep asking how the Roman Catholic Church gets to maintain its tax-free status when it gets so involved in political matters whereas All Saints' Pasadena gets scrutinised because of one sermon a couple of years ago.
ReplyDeletewhat can you say about the moral example of a relgious/political institution that renames divorce annulment so that it can claim it does not allow divorce?
ReplyDeleteCaminante, I wonder about the tax exempt status of the RCC and the Mormons in this instance. Preferential treatment comes to mind. In fact, a good many preachers are skirting the edge and, in some cases, crossing the boundary in their politicking.
ReplyDeleteDavid Vardeman, I say hypocrisy. How's that?
From your friends in Maine:
ReplyDeleteA Statement from Our Bishop
Yesterday, Bishop Stephen Lane issued a thoughtful statement in response to the election results on Question 1. We invite you to read his statement below:
“Yesterday, Question 1 provided each of us with the opportunity to exercise our franchise, to express our support for the right of same-gender couples to be afforded the full rights and responsibilities of a civil marriage or to disagree. Yesterday, Mainers chose to disagree.
Many faithful Episcopalians are deeply grieved at this decision. They had hoped that they and their families might enjoy the recognition and protections afforded heterosexual couples. The rejection of the law also feels like rejection of them as persons. I join in their grief that the right of same gender couples to enter into a lifelong, monogamous marriage has been denied. At the same time I know there are other faithful Episcopalians who are thankful about the election results. I understand that this matter has been a matter of conscience for them. Although the question of same-gender civil marriage may be settled in Maine for now, I would remind all Episcopalians - both here in Maine and across the wider Church - that we will continue the conversation about these issues for years to come.
The Episcopal Church in Maine will continue to offer a warm welcome to all people including those for whom the results of this referendum are disappointing. Especially in this tender time, I offer our assurances to gay and lesbian Mainers that you, your relationships, and your families have our support and blessing.
After Governor Baldacci signed the Marriage Equality law last spring, I began to work on a set of guidelines for our clergy to use with legal same-gender marriage. These guidelines will not be distributed. However, I will continue to work with a small group to consider the ways we may support the faithful, monogamous relationships of faithful gay and lesbian Episcopalians. Yesterday was a set back to be sure, but we will continue to strive for justice and peace among all people. We are in this for the long haul.
I welcome your comments and your concerns about this development in our life as Mainers and as Episcopalians. Whether you are saddened or thankful, please know that you remain in my prayers.”
The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane
Bishop of Maine
David, it's a lovely statement.
ReplyDelete