A coalition that wants to repeal the state's gay-marriage law announced Wednesday it has collected more than enough signatures to get the issue on the November ballot.The Roman Catholic Diocese of Maine has better things to worry about than my marriage, but that didn't stop them from distributing petitions to their members in church. (I can't even begin to describe the feeling of Christian love that fills my heart when I think about it.)Stand for Marriage Maine, which includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and others, has collected more than the 55,087 signatures needed for a people's veto question, according to a statement from the group.
The coalition has until early August to turn them in to the state for certification.
Jesse Connolly, campaign manager for Maine Freedom to Marry -- a coalition that includes EqualityMaine, Maine Civil Liberties Union, and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders -- said they are not surprised about Stand for Marriage's announcement because that group used paid signature gatherers from out of state.Of course we knew that this would happen. While it may be infuriating and depressing, it's not surprising. (It's also been mildly irritating to see Maine described as a state where same-sex marriage is legal, because the law had not gone into effect, and will now be put on hold until after the referendum.) Can I say, definitively, that being a member of a minority whose rights are apparently subject to the whim of the majority totally sucks eggs?"Advocates who are working on this issue knew from the beginning they would have to win at the Legislature and the ballot box in November," Connolly said.
So, the bottom line is that we're not done fighting. Polling is apparently pretty evenly split, so we have reason for cautious optimism. But every little bit helps, so if you're interested in contributing to marriage equality where it really, really (really) counts, click here.
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Just wait until the Mormon Church pours a couple of million into Maine like they did in California. Speaking of California, the same person who ran that repeal is here heading up this one. We are in a fight for our lives. Perhaps that will make us stronger. Ever watch a cornered animal?
ReplyDeleteJim
Hey, Jim, it wasn't the Mormon Church that carried the day in CA. Check out the exit polling, and you'll see Mormons were not the only, and certainly not the biggest, group voting yes on Prop. 8.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can bring in Mr. Obama to help... oh, wait. Sorry, scratch that, he's not in favor of SSM. And he's not spending any political capital to push for it, DADT, or any other gay rights item. But he is interested in your checks and your support.
Well, I'm glad to see that when a church decides to galvanize its membership, it's for the cause of beneficence or charity or good works. Whoops, wait a minute...
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I think if you check the bible, you'll find that beneficence, charity, and good works are just one aspect of religion, not the entire thing, however much we may wish otherwise.
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