Same-Sex Marriage Scores First U.S. Ballot Box Victories
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-07/same-sex-marriage-scores-first-u-s-ballot-box-victory.html
Gay marriage won approval from voters in Maine and Maryland, according to the Associated Press, the first time same-sex unions have been endorsed at the ballot box in the U.S.
Gay marriage won approval from voters in Maine and Maryland, according to the Associated Press, the first time same-sex unions have been endorsed at the ballot box in the U.S.
A similar measure was on the ballot in Washington, where results were still being tallied.
The votes in Maine and Maryland yesterday illustrate shifting attitudes over extending full legal recognition to homosexual relationships, which remains politically divisive even as it gains broader public support. The election put an end to more than a decade of defeat for advocates of same-sex marriage, which had been rejected by voters in every state where it appeared.
“This is a very big victory for those who support same-sex marriage,” said David Masci, a senior researcher with the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington. “To have voters in two states side with same-sex marriage proponents would have been very unlikely just four years ago.”
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It is thrilling to see that the hard work we put into this effort in Maryland paid off in the end. For once, we can be a civil rights leader instead of being dragged into it, kicking and screaming. Next up, gun rights! 
Last edited Wed Nov 7, 2012, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)
I too see it as a matter of human rights.
But at least the gains that were made last night is a good sign that people's attitudes are slowly but surely shifting just as President Obama's had. Just think- as little as a decade or so ago, the average person out there was shocked at the mere suggestion of gay couples marrying. Even here in reasonably liberal Maine.
So perhaps sometime in the near future, as more and more states come aboard, the courts will grant your/our wish.
Just one question though, and please pardon my ignorance on this, but couldn't Maine and the other states still codify this in civil rights language through their respective state courts, or would it have to go to the Federal Supreme Court?
I mean eventually, I'd love to see it go that route anyway (and hopefully President Obama will get to add a couple of new liberal SCOTUS members in the next 4 yrs), but in the meantime, as the rest of the country catches up, couldn't states such as mine set a precedent by doing this? IOW, last night's win wouldn't prevent that would it?
On edit: I'll leave it there, but just realized what a dumb question that was. For whatever reason, I wasn't thinking properly about the process... The judicial branch does not make policy (or, at least is not supposed to) but they do have the power to strike down existing law if found unconstitutional, which hopefully will be the case on the DOMA crap.
D'oh! I guess I'll quietly slink away now; back to Pets or something. Nice meeting you all, and thanks for letting me visit. 
And unlike 2008 they were happy tears 
