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#1 2009-05-06 12:00 pm
- bratboy
- laden with emotion
- Royal Wombat
- From: Austin, Texas
- Registered: 2003-01-19
- Posts: 34106
Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Movement on this issue seems to be picking up:
Maine Governor John Baldacci signed Wednesday into law a bill legalizing gay marriage in the state. The move makes Maine the fifth state to allow gay marriage.
The press release:
Governor John E. Baldacci today signed into law LD 1020, An Act to End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom.
"I have followed closely the debate on this issue. I have listened to both sides, as they have presented their arguments during the public hearing and on the floor of the Maine Senate and the House of Representatives. I have read many of the notes and letters sent to my office, and I have weighed my decision carefully," Governor Baldacci said. "I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste."
"I appreciate the tone brought to this debate by both sides of the issue," Governor Baldacci said. "This is an emotional issue that touches deeply many of our most important ideals and traditions. There are good, earnest and honest people on both sides of the question."
"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," Governor Baldacci said. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."
"Article I in the Maine Constitution states that 'no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be discriminated against.'"
"This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State," Governor Baldacci said.
"It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine's civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government."
It's too bad that the Obama Administration has decided to dial back its promises regarding DOMA and DADT. 
Link.
"One thing we've learned is there's a difference between being disappointed and having madmen in authority."
--Paul Krugman
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#2 2009-05-06 12:19 pm
- ShnickyShnack
- ::: title edited due to Satanic influences :::
- From: Rockin' out
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 22237
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
That's an artfully-named bill.
Anyway, it is, as they say, A Good Thing. It's a shame it has to be done in bits and pieces like this, but unfortunately that's just the way things are at the moment. At this pace I guess the federal government will be tail-end charlie on the road to granting equality.
As for DADT etc., I always assumed that Obama wouldn't make Clinton's mistake of making those top priorities. I still believe he'll eventually tackle them.
Sucks that it has to be addressed so damn delicately.
Note: please delete this post.
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#3 2009-05-06 2:06 pm
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
As Maine goes, so goes the Nation! (someday).
yay!
Brigid O'Shaughnessy: I haven't lived a good life. I've been bad, worse than you could know.
Sam Spade: You know, that's good, because if you actually were as innocent as you pretend to be, we'd never get anywhere.
http://sitruc.blip.tv/file/2661495/
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#4 2009-05-06 2:21 pm
- wellfleation
- High on Life
- From: Metheun, Mass.
- Registered: 2001-11-13
- Posts: 8679
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Equality is good.
FIGHT
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#5 2009-05-06 3:03 pm
- radarman
- Member
- Registered: 2005-02-28
- Posts: 3618
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Ending legally supported discrimination, and restoring equality under the law, is what is good. From a civil perspective, a marriage license is more of a contract than anything else. To deny two adults the right to enter into that contract based on sex is flat out discrimination, and to codify that discrimination into law is insane.
While I have differing views on religious marriage, and the role of the church in marriage; my views on civil marriage are strongly in favor.
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#6 2009-05-06 3:04 pm
- iSeamas
- Captain Howdy
- From: the Sticks
- Registered: 2001-12-26
- Posts: 1434
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Wicked good.
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me.
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#7 2009-05-06 3:11 pm
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
radarman wrote:
Ending legally supported discrimination, and restoring equality under the law, is what is good. From a civil perspective, a marriage license is more of a contract than anything else. To deny two adults the right to enter into that contract based on sex is flat out discrimination, and to codify that discrimination into law is insane.
While I have differing views on religious marriage, and the role of the church in marriage; my views on civil marriage are strongly in favor.
QFT
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#8 2009-05-06 3:27 pm
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
10% down, 90 % to to...
It is an odd thing, but every one who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world.
- Oscar Wilde
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#9 2009-05-06 3:31 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
- Moderator
- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 18092
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
ShnickyShnack wrote:
Sucks that it has to be addressed so damn delicately.
Addressing an issue - any issue - indelicately tends to reduce support after a certain point.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#10 2009-05-06 3:42 pm
- zoees
- Member
- From: Maryland
- Registered: 2001-08-14
- Posts: 2690
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Hmmmm. . .
I wonder why there are no conservatives out there cheering a victory for states rights.
Isn't that their claim to fame?
"I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do".—D. Dale Gulledge
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#11 2009-05-06 4:21 pm
- Pariah
- James Carville Fan..
- From: Belly Of The Beast, Oklahoma!
- Registered: 2001-05-24
- Posts: 18409
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
I think this bill and the rational that accompanies it are spot on.
The government provides the civil framework and the churches marry those they choose to. Let the primitives kick the gays on down the road. My church and plenty of others will welcome them with open arms and awful "friendship hour" coffee.
"and it's not surprising that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Barack Obama
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#12 2009-05-06 4:21 pm
- Mustapha Mond
- Up your alley
- Registered: 2001-03-24
- Posts: 7029
- Website
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
They're too busy blaming gays for why their wives have stopped sleeping with them.
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#13 2009-05-06 5:42 pm
- ShnickyShnack
- ::: title edited due to Satanic influences :::
- From: Rockin' out
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 22237
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
:: humps toaster ::
Note: please delete this post.
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#14 2009-05-06 6:07 pm
- radarman
- Member
- Registered: 2005-02-28
- Posts: 3618
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
ShnickyShnack wrote:
:: humps toaster ::
I hope you unplugged it first... 
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#15 2009-05-06 8:16 pm
- Tallgeese
- Sternly Advising
- From: Pool Party
- Registered: 2000-10-17
- Posts: 34096
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Mustapha Mond wrote:
They're too busy blaming gays for why their wives have stopped sleeping with them.
If we're talking about Republicans, it would be the wives making this complaint.
I still believe in liberalism today as much as I ever did, but, oh, there was a happy time when I believed in liberals.
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#17 2009-05-06 9:40 pm
- radarman
- Member
- Registered: 2005-02-28
- Posts: 3618
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Metacell wrote:
Nah, most of the women I've met would rather sleep with gay guys than republicans.
What about log cabin republicans?
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#18 2009-05-07 12:24 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16031
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Damned if they don't and, uh..., damned if they don't.
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#19 2009-05-07 12:38 pm
- Goat on Parade
- Member
- Registered: 2004-08-11
- Posts: 532
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
dv wrote:
ShnickyShnack wrote:
Sucks that it has to be addressed so damn delicately.
Addressing an issue - any issue - indelicately tends to reduce support after a certain point.
you're right if this issue was addressed indelicately, and we forced gays to marry, nobody would support that!
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#20 2009-05-07 1:51 pm
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
I'm straight and if anyone were to try to force a marriage that was not of my choice on me and they'll live to regret it. Furthermore they'll regret it so much they'll have second thoughts for even considering innocently meddling in someone's life. I do not see a bit of difference in the matter if I were gay. Now if I got someone preggers that was my choice and thus my responsibility.
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#21 2009-05-07 2:00 pm
- mrreet2001
- Member
- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4334
- Website
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
But gays can't get preggers
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#22 2009-05-07 2:20 pm
- iSeamas
- Captain Howdy
- From: the Sticks
- Registered: 2001-12-26
- Posts: 1434
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
mrreet2001 wrote:
But gays can't get preggers
Wrong.
Gay women get preggers.
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me.
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#24 2009-05-07 4:30 pm
- user
- Your plastic pal who's fun to be with
- From: I'm not getting you down, am I
- Registered: 2001-10-15
- Posts: 16031
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
Did Maine just legislate straight-to-gay shotgun weddings?
Aw, he's no fun, he fell right over.
Unless you become as little children, there's no way you will believe this crap.
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#25 2009-05-07 4:30 pm
- Some1
- The flying moleman.
- From: Montréal
- Registered: 2003-05-17
- Posts: 2701
Re: Gay marriage legalized in Maine
The moral fiber of America is crumbling, before you know it... half of all married heterosexual couples will be divorced.
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