Really?! REALLY?! Maine Rejects Same-Sex Marriage (Episode 26)

:DD

but i totally agree wid u... on tuesday it was the first time i was following "non-presidential" elections so closely... i had to go to sleep around 11... but the next day in skool i kgb'd (yes i know :P) around 10 and they told me that question 1 was NOT passed so i was supped... but then i went on twitter thru my phone in lunch time and every one was like stupid q 1 and stuff so i got confused... but kgb gave me my money bak :D... but super sad about the whole maine stuff they suck...

 Also: the wording of these ARE hard to understand...

its like... to help myself i just say
YES: no gay marriage NO: yes gay marriage...

but when id tell my friends they'd get confused such as ok so we are supporting yes on 1... and id be like NO! NO ON 1.... and theyd be like but gay marriage: good... right??

I THINK THEY DO IT ON PURPOSE!!

I have lived in Maine my whole life. I was born here and now I attend college here. As a resident of Portland I can say that I was shocked by the outcome of the vote. (As a side note: I have no idea why we were voting on this.) Southern Maine is extremely liberal, like most of New England. We waved our No on 1 signs and had no clue that this was going to happen.

The problem is is that northern Maine is very conservative and pretty anti-gay. Our small section of southern Maine, although we have a denser population, did not outnumber our northern neighbors.

Also, the ad campaign that the Yes on 1 side used was confusing and misleading. Their television ads informed voters that a no vote would mean that gay marriage would be taught in our schools. Education has nothing to do with this vote. Marriage is not taught in any Maine schools, that I'm aware of.

Bottom line, I'm just as pissed off as you.

Well here, (Ireland) the people who are against gay marriage say that they dont want to see it implemented because it'd pose a threat to traditional family. Im sure that ridiculous argument is used by anti equality people in the US too, and it a really idiotic argument, I mean how would gay marriage lead to the disintegration of family, are we really that threatening!! Also, here the Catholic church are very vocal against the gays and unfortunately, people listen, im guessing that may have been an issue in Maine too. Here they even spend parishioners money to hire an ex-politician to work in the Department of Justice to lobby politicans against gay rights and gay equality, scary isnt it!

so i can share in everyones frustration. though i dont live in maine, i watched the elections closely, and for most of the time it was too close to count. so i was really let down to see that ignorance once again wins over equality. (On a side note, we just had elections for governor in my state of NJ, where Republican candidate Chris Christie just won, who promised that he would not agree to any gay marriage legislation that was suggested. Joy.)

I want to believe that if people were just a little more willing to step outside their bubble and actually get to know a gay person or two it would really make a difference. We're not perverts. We're not child molesters. We're not Satan incarnate. And we're not threatening your precious heterosexual marriage in any way, shape or form. I always hold the hope that someday (I pray in my lifetime), 50 years from now we'll all be looking back and thinking how stupid, pointless, and bigoted this entire mess is, but things like this remind me we still have a long way to go.

Thank you Michelle, for opening up dialogue on this important matter--i think its something that needs to be talked about.

Peace and love to all <3

I'm a cynic, so I usually believe that most things are about power plays, money or both. While I do believe there are still homophobics out there, I find it difficult to fathom that even the homophobes don't have a Gay family member or friend in their lives whom they love. The fact is we're everywhere and you can't get away from us. ;) 

Bottom line. I believe that people are usually convinced to vote against something when they think it will hit their pocket books too hard. I can hear the political arguments now: "It's not about the marriage thing. But the cost will be too much for the city/state/taxpayer to bear. And why should we carry a burden that not all of us agree with? Blah, blah, blah... On the other hand, pot only costs $20 a bag." :P And this is why I think pot passes and homo-marriage doesn't. It will be (and has been) the same homo vs. money battle in every State. I think it has very little to do with what we do in our bedrooms. To be perfectly frank (but you can call me navy), most of those same "conservative" voters have freakier sex lives than we do! But if people knew and understood that the insurance industry lobby is the most likely culprit behind our losses, and not the conservative party that we focus on, then we might actually get somewhere with this vote. If we want to win this battle we have to figure out a way to fight the money argument. Until we do, we'll have the same uphill battle in every State.

But then again look on the bright side. If we manage to put marijuana on every ballot in every State that has also proposed Gay marriage, we might actually get pot legalized in all 50 States! Think about it folks. That might be a solution to the larger picture:

1. Get pot legalized.
2. Get them all high, then...
3. Put Gay marriage back on the ballot once they're all tuned up on MJ!
4. Gay marriage passes with flying rainbow colors by happy voters with the munchies. (Don't forget to provide snacks for the munchies!) 

With the right game plan, it's certain to work after nationwide campaign parties that include bongs-n-brownies. :)

All of sudden, I have the munchies...

To start I feel like I should clarify we voted to legalize medical marijuana (small distinction, but felt I should say it anyway).

As a born and bred Mainer, who worked countless hours on the No on 1 campaign, I have to say I was obviously upset and deeply disappointed at the way the election turned out. Yes I wanted equality to win out, but I can't say I'm completely surprised either. The fact of the matter is, for the most part, this issue (which I don't feel should even have been brought to a vote in the first place) wasn't really about what  it should have and was to supposed to have been about, civil marriage rights and equality. The sad fact is most Yes on 1 voters that I've talked to (and I've talked to a lot, some of my own family included) were convinced that to vote No on 1 was to make it so gay marriage and gay sex were going to be taught in schools. This issue became really about two things, education and religion, neither of which were the actual issue.

But what I will say, and I'm echoing and paraphrasing a bit from Gov. Baldacci and countless others, that while this issue shouldn't have gone up for a vote in the first place, it is making strides towards equality and that is something to be happy about. We came close to making history, and while we fell short I can't forget (and neither should anyone else who seems content to blame the entire state right now) that nearly half of the state of Maine (and the majority of young voters, who came out in droves on election day) support equality. 

Welcome back Michelle.
You are not the only one who is angry like that.
I don't get why people actually have the right to vote on others love life.
I mean... who cares. If two girls or two boys get married, it doesn't change anything.
What are they so affraid of?

I live in canada and over here, it doesn't seem to be this much a big deal...
But honestly... Maine doesn't get it.

Marriage isn't some random thing you do , yet a lot et heteros get married and then divorce. That's even worst to my eyes than two same sex persons wanting to get married.

TRaditions sucks.
Argh! ANGRY AnGRY ANGRY !

Although I'm not a Maine-er, or a US-er, I share your anger Michelle! The arguments used, about it degrading tradtional family values and all that is rubbish! But unfortunatly a lot of people believe it. I do sometimes wonder if more contriversial voting opinons (such as gay marriage) are deliberatly hard to figure out, but then I think thats just me being sceptical!!

Anyway, I share your annoyance, legalising gay marriage will have no effect on any of the straight people unless they want it to (ie have gay friends who can now invite them to their weddings) or they're wedding planners, more work see, so maybe gay marriage is actually good for the economy?? haha Bottom line, this stinks! Boo Maine! *waves pride flag*

I'm straight and this shit gets me so angry. I can't believe something like this is even up for a public vote, and to see those "Yes on 1" people cheering and clapping after having sucessfully passed a law to prevent people they don't even know from getting married is just disgusting. If I were homophobic, I'd be embarrased at harbouring such hateful views, not proudly displaying them in public.

It just doesn't make any sense to me. There are plenty of things I don't like: Internet Explorer, leggings, ridiculous haircuts, bluetooth headsets... I don't parade the streets and attempt to get these things banned. I simply accept that other people's preferences differ from my own, and that their enjoyment of one thing does not diminish my satisfaction from another. 

Thanks for the rant -- very cathartic!

A couple things (from someone who grew up in Maine) -- first, in comparing the MJ and marriage votes, I think the campaigns were very different. The MJ question was fought out between mostly homegrown, local-to-Maine groups, while the marriage question drew tons of money and highly skilled political strategists from outside the state. Unfortunately, I think the homophobes have us beat there because they are willing to play dirtier and, let's face it, stirring up fear and hatred has always been a more effective mobilizing strategy than appealing to people's human decency. (ok, bitter a little)

Second, and related, is what people have already mentioned -- that the Yes on 1 side was really successful at reframing the debate. I think a lot of people who voted yes weren't really voting on marriage, they were voting on gay sex being taught in schools or something. If I can continue to be bitter for a moment (and echo my mom's Nov 4 sentiments), I think the homophobe side tends to be, on average, if not dumber at least less educated than our side. Sure that's stereotyping, but I feel entitled. They started it! ;) But that's why I don't think it was just the confusing wording of the question, because that should have affect both sides.

End of the day, people shouldn't vote on our rights anyway, change has to come from the top -- the legislature and the politicians -- and that's why I am so encouraged that Baldacci came out in support of gay marriage. It was a politically risky stand in a divided state, and he hasn't always been in our corner. It truly seemed like a decision of conscience. So that's the positive in all this.

ARRRRRRGGGG

Being from Northern Maine, the problem around my parts was this -- There was no help from the Vote No on 1 ppl.  We emailed, we called, we emailed some more.  I was told, by a rep of No on 1 that ''we have never encroached so far into Northern Maine."  He was in Bangor and thought that Bangor was Northern Maine.  Sorry, that's central Maine.  I have the emails.  Had they gone into the rural communities, harvest the fact that most of Northern Maine is boardered by Canada, who happens to allow same sex marriage, and used that on commericals, and newspaper articles, No on 1 would have won.  Alas, its over now and there is no going back now, Gay Mainer's are 2nd class citizens

www.lulu.com/jadedrogue

As a born and bred Mainer, who is also a lesbian, who still lives in the state, I was both hurt and angry by the results. I come from a very conservative religious family, so needless to say my family and most of my friends were on the opposite side of the fence.

I had a feeling this was not going to be our year, however 2011 is a new year, and I believe we will make great strides. It is my opinion that the "Teaching Homosexuality in School" campaign was the most damanging to the "NO on 1 Campaign." I don't think we were prepared for that campaign or how many people it would reach. It was a campaign based on falsehoods, lies, and misinformation. However, we now have time to ready ourselves for the next campaign, in which we will be prepared to combat the unfounded fear of teaching homosexuality in schools. I think next time pro-gay marriage campaign should also concentrate on the fact that Maine has ensured that religious institutions have the right to refuse to marry gay couples, so those institutions are protected according to their moral beliefs. Because of this, the conservative right wing, really doesn't have a leg to stand upon.

My concern is the apparent bitterness and hate all too evident these days. It comes from both sides, and while as a lesbian, I understand the bitterness, we need to make sure that we do not hurt ourselves and our cause by acting out any anger etc... I encourage all to establish and maintain open dialogue. Perhaps fanciful thinking, but seriously...the swastikas and rainbow flags on "Yes on 1" signs did NOT help our cause. It simply reduced as to common thugs with no respect for private and public opinion and property.

2011 is a new year. We will be ready, and equality is on the horizon!

Where I place my will, there I will achieve

I think we cannot wait around for 2011, we need to push now.  Where it hurts.  Their pocket books, their hearts, their churches and their families.  thejadedrogue@gmail.com -- If any Mainers are interested in organizing, please email me.  No more sitting in the back of the bus, it's time to grab the wheel and drive for once.

theJadedRogue

www.lulu.com/jadedrogue

this is ridiculous.

Feeling the same as you are ; "POT?! BUT NOT GAYS?"

"You can't truly have an open heart, until it's been broken" - Alice Walker

"In a world of cheerios, be a fruitloop"

"I'm a deeply superficial person" - Andy Warhol

I'm not biased and I still think the whole thing is ridiculous.  I don't even think gay marriage should be a state-by-state issue.  B/c this is an equality issue, it should be a national one.  The 13th-15th Amendments abolished slavery and that ridiculous "3/5 compromise" in America and prohibited the federal and state governments from infringing on a person's rights based on their race or color.  The 19th Amendment recognized equality for women by prohibiting federal and state governments from infringing on a person's right to vote based on their sex.  Hell, even the 26th Amendment gave rights to 18 year olds by prohibiting the federal and state governments from being denied the right to vote based on their age.  And if an age group - which is judged based on our lowest level of scrutiny - can acheive some level of national equality, then the same should be done for sexual orientation, IMHO.  Granted, right now sexual orientation is also judged by the lowest level of scrutiny, but that will get me started on a whole new rant so I won't get into that.

The last time I checked, the Preamble to the Constitution stated that the Constitution was established to, among other things, "promote the general welfare," and for me, the key word here is general.  As in the general public, not just straight people.  Or white people.  Or black people.  Or men.  Or women.  But everyone.  So yeah, I'm totally baffled as to why Americans are stuck on making this a state-by-state issue, when it isn't and shouldn't be one.

Getting back to Maine, I think Q1 passed for a lot of the same reasons Prop 8 did in Cali, and misinformation and confusion are two of those reasons.  I think navygirl has a good point on the money issue, b/c even though it was med MJ, pot is a huge industry that can generate a lot of revenue.  And it's not as hard to get a med marijuana card as you'd think.  I'd still argue that allowing gay marriages will also help boost the economy, but opponents to gay marriage are extremely talented at confusing and misleading the public, and a lot of voters often go to the polls w/o really understanding what's going on or what they're voting on.  They're also really good at generating fear, and fear is a strong motivator in preventing change/equality from occuring.  I think the fact that the percentage with which Q1 passed is a good sign to take away from the whole situation.  The fact that it was so close, like in Cali, means that people aren't giving into the fear and hate.  And it's not just a small amount of people, but nearly half of voters.  Which means there is hope in overturning these ridiculous laws and achieving equality, even if we have to do it state-by-state.

Oh, and shout out to my PepSi chica Africa!  Hang in there, 'cause you're right, equality is on the horizon :)

Washington state just passed R-71 (aka "everything but marriage law")  which gives registered domestic partners the same rights as married couples in Wa.  

results on Nov. 3

http://www.komonews.com/news/69031042.html

Hopefully someday there will be equal marriage in EVERY state.

But for now...apparently pot is more important for some people.

.....................................................................................................

Just go up to somebody on the street and say "You're it!"  and run away.

REALLY? REALLY! It's 2009, for gosh sake. why the h**l is this still even an issue?

who the h**l do these people voting for this think they are? why should they get to decide if we get to have the right to marry or not. it would really be nice if we could regulate marriage based on love, but unfortunately this is another example of the government and it's crazy zealots attempting to regulate marriage based on sexual preferance. i don't remember there being anything in the constitution where gays and lesbians are not entitled to the benefits of freedom and equal rights. (and on a side note - i am so sick of people saying that we want "special" rights! the only "special" rights that the gay community wants are the "special" rights that the hetrosexual community already has. what makes them special is that we don't get to have them.)

personally i think everyone in this world would get along much better if they worried more about they're own lives rather then worrying about what everyone else is doing. people make such a big deal about religion and how gay marriage is a sin. i was raised catholic though and i remember being taught to love and respect everybody, not everybody but the two guys or girls living alone on the corner.

so i have a question of my own for these people that think marriage should only be between a man and a woman: why? is it because the bible says so? the bible also says that eating pork is a sin and that it's okay to own slaves. or is it because marriage is for the procreation of children? if so, then marriage between senior citizens, of people who are sterile, and people who are permantly incarcerated but allowed to have conjugal visits shouldn't be allowed to marry either. but nobody seems to want to really answer that question with anything other then it would hurt traditonal marriage or it could harm our kids. the ones that do usually only give definitions and biblical rhetoric, not viable reasons (as if there actually is one). it seems to me that because race can no longer be discriminated against, either legally or biblically, that the religious zealots in this country have found one more group of people to opress in order to raise they're own self-rightous souls to heaven.

but "marriage" is just a word and not the real issue here, EQUALITY IS!

(sorry about all that, i guess i just needed a minute to rant a little too!)

          MACKENZIE

i live in kansas and our own attorney general once said that essentially because gays are allowed to vote, we aren't discrimited against. he seemed to be unaware of gay bashings, firings and evicitions, not to mention the daily insults and threats directed at anyone perceived as gay. given the level of hostility they're subjected to, i think that gay relationships need the protection of legal recognition more then most.

          MACKENZIE

The maine news deeply sadden me. It remined me of the feeling i awoke with the morning after election day last year, only to learn that prop 8 had been passed in CA. But perhaps today I have a different persepctive on the situation.

I am gay myself. I want the same equal rights that everyone else in the community wants. I think that the only solution in the US is to have legistlation passed on the federal level, so that everyone feels equal regardless of which state they live in.

However, I've been thinking about this whole marriage business. Marriage is a discriminatory institution as it stands now. Not only does it discriminate against gay couples, but it discriminates against a whole range of couples, including non-married heterosexual couples, non-monogamous couples (gay or straight), and the list continues. Why is that we are so adamant in participating in such a discriminatory and exclusive institution in the first place? What we really REALLY should be fighting for is the abandonment of legal rights from this "traditional" and "religious" practice that conservatives are fighting so hard to preserve. In essence, the gay community doesn't want that stigma anyways. We want the equality.

 I vote to fight for universal equal rights aside from marriage, for all types of love and relationship structures. 

Dear Maine- 

 I'm a little upset with you right now.  I thought maybe we had a good relationship going on... I had actually started to remember you were part of the 50 states and not Canada.  But after this little... voting... mishap. It's really put a downer on us seeing eachother later in life.  I'm sorry but... I'm going to have to say it's over.   You, suck.

Kelsey-

P.S. I lied to you--I've always hated Lobster!!  

I live in maine and lets just say life isnt the way it should be right now.

I voted no of course...but got to find out yesterday that my father, unfortunately, did not. 

So I should start off by saying that I am a straight man and I live in the UK, but I do have an opinion on this, for what it is worth.

Yes, you do sound like a raving lunatic lesbian, but with very good reason, I mean WTF is going on, I mean honestly in this day and age with all that is going on in this world, I cannnot believe that the whole GAY marraige thing still gets put up their as being important.

I personally am not a big advocate of marraige, but to each their own, these people that voted NO must have been smoking what they voted yes for, seriously, get your heads out your arses, step outside into the real world and just let people live their lives the way that they choose to live them, within the comfines of the law obviously.

I totally get why you are pissed and I cant help but feel that there are more important issues that should be getting voted upon than this....

AND my honeymoon. 

~Talk Derby to me.~

I've just gotten furious so many times, at prop 8, and the lack of legislation in NY, that at this point, i'm not angry; i have been driven to tears.  The fact that somebody would want to vote against somebody's happiness is mind boggling.   Are people that hateful?  Do they just not understand?

I personally was absolutely confused by the wording of 1.  I had to think about it for a little bit to understand which vote was anti-gay.  I still have to have somebody outright say "NO on 1" to remember.  Can we just get somebody to not mince their words and just spit it out -- just say, "we don't like gay people, and this is the bill against that" rather than pretending to be doing the right thing.  Ergh.

KalikeCA,

You hit the nail right on the head...this is a national civil rights issue that should be addressed on the national level, and secondly, no one's civil rights should ever be put up for a vote. Talk about the rights of the minority being subjected to a tyrannical majority. First, the specious Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) needs to be repealed by Congress, and the entire issue of gay marriage/rights has to be addressed at the federal level to ensure rights across the board in every state of the Union by amending the Constitution of the United States. Anything less is ridiculous and of no use to those who truly believe in equality.

"I don't even understand how people can vote on this issue. They're literally voting on equality."

Exactly! Walking over our rights again and again is illegal and should be put to an end by federal law.

REPEAL DOMA ALREADY, Mr. Obama, and spare us this constant farce.  >:-/

Alright I hardly ever and by hardly ever I mean never comment on vlogs, blogs, and other personal opinion things, but I couln't not comment on this...

Like Michelle has said its 2009 why is this still an issue? I'm with you I just don't understand it either... I do not understand why we are even voting on equality. I don't understand how basic HUMAN rights not even gay rights but HUMAN rights are being denied by people. Why are we voting on something that should be GUARANTEED by our nation. Human rights should be protected by due process which is in the Constitution and we still are being denied basic civl rights that our country likes to pride itself on. Give me a break. 

What I don't understand is why do people care who I marry? Because it will taint the insitution of marriage? You really wanna know what taints the insititution of marriage? The fact that people are allowed to marry only after dating for like a week. Or the fact that people will marry for the sole reason of getting someone their green card. Not gay marriage. Studies have shown in states that allow gay marriage actually have lower divroce rates than in states that don't allow gay marriage. Lastly, if you don't believe in gay marriage then don't get one but please do not deny this to other people. I'm pretty sure straight people will bug out if they were denied the right to marry the person they were in love with

I live in Maine, and all night, my friends and i were watching the poll results. I'm not old enough to vote yet, so it was that much worse not having any say.
I do agree it sucks that pot was legalized, but not gay marriage. I think that part of the problem was that a lot of the people that would have voted 'no' in favor of gay marriage simply did not vote at all. both my parents did that. they didn't feel like voting. it was stupid.

I can't get my head around letting people vote for something like this. They let people decide whether a minority can have the same rights as a majority.
It just doesnt make sense.
Weird though, pot actually is slang for lesbian, maybe the voters were confused?  ;-)

I don't think anybody on this website is going to disagree with you, Michelle.  I actually wasn't aware that pot was legalized, and that just infruiates me.  Sure, let people get fried!  Just whatever you do...DON'T LET THEM MARRY WHO THEY LOVE!!!  It's just a freaking joke.  Unfortuntely I don't really think it was a simple mistake.  I think we'd be suprised how many people claim to support gays because they have gay friends..but once they're alone in their "booth"...they turn into Sara Palin.  I'm outraged, but the fight is never over!! 

www.myspace.com/emmahuntermusic

Hello from Aussieland :D

 Just thought id bring a bit of good news to this topic. One of our states here just passed a bill that legalizes gay civil ceremonies *dances*. That is the good news, thank you Green party in ACT for pushin that through.

Though the federal government has overturned bills like this one twice in the past... so fingers crossed this time it sticks :D

check it out 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/make-ME-gay/173959725137?ref=mf