Tag: Maine

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When marriage equality begins in Washington, Maryland and Maine

Thanks to the American Foundation for Equal Rights, here is the timeline for implementing the recently passed marriage equality initiatives:

  • Maine: December 6 at the earliest. This date may change. The initiative goes into effect 30 days after the governor makes a “public proclamation of the result of the vote,” within 10 days after the result has been determined.
  • Maryland: January 1, 2013. This date was included in the original legislation passed by the state’s General Assembly, which was approved by voters.
  • Washington: December 6. All referendums that are approved by voters in the Evergreen State go into effect 30 days after the election.

A response from the US Supreme Court on Prop 8 and DOMA challenges is expected November 26th.

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Maine votes to pass marriage equality in 2012

All the votes are not yet in and the margin is only a few points at this writing, but virtually all of the LGBT organizations and the Portland Press-Herald are calling it a WIN.

Via press release from Freedom To Marry:

Maine today became the first state to approve the freedom to marry for same-sex couples through a majority vote on a ballot measure.

Maine is expected to begin issuing marriage licenses in mid-December.

“Today, a majority in Maine voted in favor of loving and committed same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry,” said Freedom to Marry National Campaign Director Marc Solomon. “Now the commitment gay and lesbian couples have made in life will be respected equally under the law, celebrated before their loved ones, and called what it is: marriage.”

“It’s hard to overstate the national significance of this vote,” Solomon continued. “For years, our opponents have argued that we could not win a majority vote at the ballot. Today, Maine voters proved them wrong, standing up for the Golden Rule and for freedom for all Mainers.”

This means more to me than you can ever know. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your votes have made more Americans more “equal” than you will ever know.

Great, great day. Thank you.

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Maine: GOP lawmaker regrets voting against marriage equality

A Republican lawmaker in Maine who voted against marriage equality while in office in 2009 now describes that decision as a “chicken thing for me to do.”

Stacey Fitts is appearing in ads throughout the state calling on others to take a more courageous stand than he did when lawmakers voted on marriage equality in 2009, and then when the state’s voters vetoed the law. He sat on the sidelines during the debate despite leaning pro-equality.

“As I watched that evolve, it became clear that I wasn’t in support of the veto effort,” he told the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. “And that I wouldn’t necessarily take a role — which, looking back, probably was another chicken thing for me to do.”

Fitts said he was secretly pleased marriage equality had passed through the legislature, and he told MPBN he’d voted against it only because he was following the party line.

In a television ad from Mainers United for Marriage released earlier this month, Fitts is making it clear he’s changed his mind and that he hopes other voters have too. “I voted against same-sex marriage in 2009, but I know some gay people and I’ve talked with them and with my family,” he said in the ad, continuing, “I don’t believe the government should tell anybody who they can love or who they can marry.”

Via the Advocate

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TheFour announce “$25 for 25 Days” fundraiser for marriage equality

With 25 days left to the election, The Four 2012 is revving into high gear with their one-day Moneybomb for Equality campaign.

Followers are being urged to donate $25 or more to the state marriage campaigns of Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington with one click from this Act Blue page.

Donations of $25 can be split among all four states, or you can give $25 to each.

All money raised goes directly to Mainers United for Marriage, Marylanders for Marriage Equality, Minnesotans United for All Families and Washington United for Marriage.

Click here to donate.