U of Maine Editorial: Opponents of same-sex marriage don’t have a leg to stand on

[GodlessBiker]

http://mainecampus.com/2009/10/08/editorial-opponents-of-same-sex-marriage-don%E2%80%99t-have-a-leg-to-stand-on/

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The UMaine UVote committee recently tried to organize public debate on the same-sex marriage referendum to be voted on in November. The No on 1/Protect Maine Equality Campaign, which supports the rights of same-sex couples to marry, accepted the invitation. Stand for Marriage Maine, the leading Yes on 1 organization, declined.

Stand for Marriage Maine decided not to attend the debate because they felt they “needed to do more outreach to voters,” and didn’t have time for public forums, according to Associate Dean of Students Angel Loredo.

Proponents of Yes on 1 have built their message on deception and skipped out on the debate for fear of the outcome of a real, rational debate. Instead, they focus on methods that facilitate playing on people’s fears such as the TV ads Mainers have seen for the last few weeks.

The UMaine community would benefit from a debate about the same-sex marriage referendum. It would enlighten the unaware and let people know how Question 1 affects them, the campus and the state of Maine. Students, faculty, campus employees and visitors would all have been given a chance to see what each side brings to the table and then made a more educated decision Nov. 3. Instead, the campus is left without that benefit.

If members of Stand for Marriage Maine had any desire to benefit Mainers and students, they would have agreed to attend the debate and offer a rational argument for their position. Their actions do nothing but cast a shadow of doubt over their ability to defend their convictions against criticism.

Public forums are a place for truth, the conspicuous absence of which in the Yes on 1 TV ads casts even more doubt on the merits of Stand for Marriage Maine’s argument.

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These bigots are cowards, plain and simple.