Too Close to Call

[I've got my fingers crossed]

Gay-marriage vote is too close to call in Maine

By Glenn Adams and David Crary

Associated Press
Posted: 11/03/2009 08:02:20 PM PST
Updated: 11/03/2009 08:02:22 PM PST

PORTLAND, Maine — Gay marriage was put to a vote in Maine on Tuesday in a closely watched referendum that gay-rights activists across the country hoped would prove for the first time that their cause can prevail at the ballot box.

Voters had to decide whether to repeal or affirm a state law that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition drive by conservatives.

Early returns showed a close contest, as forecast. With 148 of 608 precincts reporting, each side had 50 percent of the votes.

A vote to uphold the law would mark the first time that the electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage. That could energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will of the public.

However, repeal — in New England, the region of the country most supportive of gay couples — would be another heartbreaking defeat for the marriage-equality movement, after the vote against gay marriage in California a year ago.

It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed a gay-marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians rejected same-sex marriage, it was in response to a court ruling, not legislation.

Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout seemed higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest appeared intense.
Advertisement
Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people — out of about 1 million registered voters — had voted by absentee ballot or early voting.

Five other states have legalized gay marriage — Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut — but all did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have been on the ballot.

"If we don't win, then Maine will have its place in infamy because no state has ever voted for homosexual marriage," said Chuck Schott of Portland, who stood near a polling place in Maine's biggest city with a pro-repeal campaign sign.

Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was "very torn" but decided — despite her conservative upbringing — to vote in favor of letting gays marry.

"They love and they have the right to love. And we can't tell somebody how to love," said Holman, 26.

The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims — disputed by state officials — that the new law would mean "homosexual marriage" would be taught in public schools.

Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of gay marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million, compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.

heart......Unfortunately, as we all know by now, Maine surprisingly voted against allowing gay marriage in their state. I'm still scratching my head over this one. Craig Ferguson's monologue last night addressed the absurdity of it all in a very humorous way:

http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_late_sh...FHR1Iw29D_VcBXQ

I don't understand why this is allowed on the ballot. It seems to me that the legislators primary responsibility is to protect the minority from the majority. Won't anyone stand up to this and say it's unconstitutional to deny people the right that their own church can, and does, bestow. If a church wants to marry two people then shouldn't they be allowed to register that marriage at a civil court? I just don't get it!

The vote came too soon, like the CA vote. People voted by reflex rather than having had a chance to see that gay marriage doesn't affect them. Oh well, at least we apparently won in Washington state.

Good analysis, dgg -- the religious conservatives were poised to retaliate well in advance.

The issue is not if all people should be able to find happiness, they should.
But will the electorate endorse all relationships? No, too much acquiescence .

them tiny minded people are on their last licks
their day and time is numbered
you can't stop progress

and the demographics show

so eventually that runaway train will run the naysayers over

And the religious conservatives lost as much as the persons with non-traditional sex/gender preferences. Both good will and bad will are cumulative in the social system. The Fundamentalists are the ones who are losing place in the long run...in both, "Christian Countries" and, "Muslim Countries."

I don't think it's an issue we can win on with the general electorate in most places just yet. But if you look at the results of these elections, they are getting closer and closer all the time. People are starting to realize that same-sex marriage doesn't do anything to hurt straight people and does a world of good for gay couples and their children.