Tag: Maine

Posted on

Maine: Marriage equality issue leads by 21 points in new poll


A new poll by Critical Insights finds that Maine’s marriage equality referendum is set to pass, with 57 percent approval and only 36 percent rejection.

No one expects the 21-point lead to last, however. Maine has proven to be narrowly divided on gay marriage in past elections. Even with a strong lead, the issue is clearly dividing Maine voters along partisan, social and economic lines. The polls says:

* 81 percent of Democrats said they would vote “yes,” while 64 percent of Republicans say they would vote “no.”
* 86 percent of Obama supporters back same-sex marriage, while 75 percent of Romney supporters oppose it.
* 79 percent of King supporters back same-sex marriage, while 77 percent of Summers supporters oppose it.
* 69 percent of college graduates support the referendum, while 56 percent of people with a high school education or less oppose it.
* 77 percent of 18-to-34-year-old voters support it, while 50 percent of voters over 65 oppose it.

(source)

Posted on

Mainers United for Marriage – Firefighters on “Brotherhood”

Firefighters Andrew, Dave, Eric and Ryan talk about trust, respect and why they’re voting “Yes” on Question 1. They know marriage matters to ALL Maine families.

A recent survey from Public Policy Polling found 52% of likely voters in support, with 44% opposed and 4% undecided.

The Maine People’s Resource Center released a poll that showed 53% in support, 43% opposed and 4% undecided on Question 1 on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The ballot measure which repealed the law in 2009, also known as Question 1, passed 53% to 47%.

Posted on

Maine: Marriage equality supporters launch pre-emptive strike against NOM

As Mainers United for Marriage gears up for the last weeks of the marriage campaign, they’ve released a new ad that takes on the issue of religious freedom.

Having seen the anti-gay National Organization for Marriage’s playbook in the past and knowing their ads will feature lies about the impact of this law on churches, they’re addressing the attack early.

Smart kids.  See?  We’re catching on…

Posted on

New campaign for marriage equality – The Four 2012

New campaign to support the marriage equality issues in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Check it out at www.TheFour2012.com

From the website: Anti-gay and anti-human rights organizations in our country are mobilizing – putting vast sums of money and resources into all four states to defeat us. In the past, despite great polls – we have lost ballot initiatives. Our opposition is organized and well-funded. But we have what they don’t – we’re fighting for love, not against it.

Every day there will be another way to stand for marriage equality. You can sign up for updates with the FOUR and new ways to fight for marriage equality every day between now and the election.

Posted on

Maine couple discusses why marriage equality is important for both their sons

Dan and Pat Lawson, a Maine couple married for 30 years, discusses their twin sons, one of whom is straight and one gay, about why marriage matters.

The pro-equality group Mainers United for Marriage, issued a statement in which campaign manager Matt McTighe commented on the latest ad, saying:

“Our campaign is built upon honest and open conversations with Mainers about why marriage matters to all loving, committed couples. The personal story of the real Maine family highlighted in GLAD’s new ad resembles the conversations we’ve had with tens of thousands of Mainers across the state who are changing their hearts and minds and growing more supportive of the freedom to marry every day.”

Posted on

Human Rights Campaign to donate $1 million to marriage equality fight

The Human Rights Campaign is sending $250,000 apiece to Maine, Washington, Maryland, and Minnesota to help with same-sex marriage ballot measures in each of those states, Politico reports:

Officials said there will be more spending coming, and that it makes the total spent by HRC in 2011 and 2012 on marriage-related efforts to $4.8 million.

“These ballot measures are the critical issues in November for our community, besides re-electing the president” and a small handful of specific races, said HRC’s Michael Cole-Schwartz. “And part of why they’re a big deal is because our opponents have rightfully had the talking points that all of these states have banned marriage for same-sex couples (in the past).”

Maine is the only state with a ballot measure that would legalize same-sex marriage.

Washington and Maryland are fighting repeals of laws passed in 2011.

Minnesota is battling a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

Posted on

Support for same-sex marriage continues to grow coast to coast

According to a new poll, numbers are beginning to look good for this coming November vote on marriage equality.

On March 1, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) signed the law legalizing same-sex marriage, making Maryland the eighth state to recognize marriage equality. In June, opponents of the law gathered enough signatures to put the issue before voters.

The new statewide poll conducted by Hart Research Associates found 54 percent of Marylanders say they would vote for the law that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry. Forty percent would vote against it.  This means a 14 point spread between support and opposition.

When they surveyed voters in March, 51 percent said they would vote for the law, and 43 percent said they would vote against it.

In Washington state, a recent SurveyUSA poll found support for marriage equality at 50% over 43% opposed.

And in Maine, a mid-June poll found support for gay marriage trumping opposition 55-36%.

Read more at the Huffington Post

Posted on

Mainers United for Marriage joined by Maine Republicans who support marriage equality

At a press conference, Mainers United for Marriage announced the launch of Republicans United for Marriage, a group of Republicans who have pledged their support for the freedom to marry, and have promised a “Yes” vote in November.

“Allowing all loving, committed couples to marry isn’t about political parties. Across Maine, Republicans, Democrats and Independents are working together to support the freedom to marry,” said Matt McTighe, campaign manager for Mainers United for Marriage. “Our campaign is about talking to one another, building bridges and finding common ground. We’re proud to welcome Republicans United for Marriage to our campaign.”

Recent polling shows broad support for allowing same-sex couples to receive a marriage license. Through more than 112,000 one-on-one conversations, Maine voters are telling the campaign that they are changing their minds.

Other prominent Republicans present included: Amy Abbott, Portland; Greg Boulos, Cape Elizabeth; Brenda Garrand, Portland; Jim Nicholson, Waterville; Ted O’Meara, South Portland; Rep. Dave Richardson, Carmel; James Shaffer, Cape Elizabeth; Gordon Smith, Winthrop; Betsy Tipper, Smithfield; and Karl Turner, Cumberland.

Read more at Mainers United for Marriage

Posted on

Poll: Marriage equality leads by 19 points in Maine

A poll released today shows the attempt to return same-sex marriage to Maine leading by a wide margin.

55 percent of voters support a referendum to legalize marriage between gay and lesbian couples, while only 36 percent oppose the proposed law. If passed, the referendum will provide marriage licenses for same-sex couples without requiring any religion or clergy to perform a ceremony that would violate their religious doctrine. In 2009, Maine voters repealed a law legalizing same-sex marriage.

(Via JoeMyGod)