Maine continues to add to the nation's problem of not providing equality
Issue date: 11/9/09 Section: Editorial
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Maine's civil marriage bill was introduced in April. Following a six-month veto campaign, supporters of Maine's same-sex marriage law were deeply disappointed Nov. 3, when the law was rejected 53 percent to 47 percent.
An enormous crowd of No on 1/Protect Maine Equality supporters were seen crying and clutching one another in Portland, Maine.
This is just another event that will no doubt leave a black eye on our history.
If the law had passed, Maine would have been the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by a popular vote. While Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Iowa and New Hampshire allow same-sex marriages, these states established the law legislatively or judicially.
During the veto campaign, the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality group emphasized that voting "No" on the referendum question would uphold the same-sex marriage law. The question on the voting ballot was: "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?" A "Yes" vote takes away the ability of same-sex couples to marry; a "No" vote keeps the ability of same-sex couples to marry.
Maine, along with every other state that refuses to legalize same-sex marriages, is deliberately isolating members of the community. Society is continuously taking liberties with civil rights to push citizens away from being a part of the community.
Representatives of the public have epically failed to do the right thing and have again taken the easy way out. It's easy to discriminate, hate and disagree. It's much more of a stretch to have a progressive mind.
The issue doesn't lie only with Maine, but with this country as a whole. It's time for the nation as a whole to accept all citizens rather than excluding some. It's baffling that citizens would vote to take away rights from other citizens.
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