Maine votes to strip gays of rights, like so many other states

[Grimmlok]

Below is the email sent from Jesse Connolly, the campaign manager for No on 1. He is an amazing man with an enormous commitment to social justice and equality. Yesterday, we lost in Maine. But, it's so not over:


Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Maine voters stood for equality, but in the end, it wasn't enough.

I am proud of the thousands of Mainers who knocked on doors, made phone calls and talked to their family, friends and neighbors about the basic premise of treating all Maine families equally.

And I'm proud of this campaign because the stories we told and the images we shared were of real Mainers -- parents who stood up for their children, and couples who simply wanted to marry the person they love.

We're in this for the long haul. For next week, and next month, and next year-- until all Maine families are treated equally. Because in the end, this has always been about love and family and that will always be something worth fighting for.

Thank you. Thank you for everything you did. Thank you for digging deep and giving one more dollar to run our TV ads, for making those phone calls for one more hour. This campaign was, from the beginning, powered by people like you who rolled up their sleeves and did the hard work of change.

Stay the course.

I want to add my thanks to everyone in the AMERICAblog community who supported our work in Maine. You all were great...giving money...making calls. It was appreciated in Maine and by both John and me.

AMERICAblog Gay | A great people deserve their rights

No, don't stay the fucking course. Stop fighting like little girls. Get fucking dirty. Stop it with the namby pamby feel good shit, and start tearing your opponent apart. THATS WHY YOU KEEP LOSING.

On a sidenote, what the fuck kind of country puts civil rights up for a majority vote? Fucking banana republic retard country, that's what.

[laynes]

So true.. We can't even get American Idol right. The Majority should not be allowed to vote.. on anything.

Civil Rights should not be a "choice"! End of discussion.

[Nightdragon]

This is bullshit. Rights belong to everyone and are not subject to a fucking vote. Period.

[frecklered]

disappointed in my home state. we voted medical marijuana by a wide margin, but upholding the rights for gay marriage? nope.

I knew it would be close but I'm still upset.

[McJag]

Do not lose heart. This is just the beginning.

[visitor42]

McJag is right.

[Wiseguy]

^^^Also agree. It's just a matter of time.

[Nightdragon]

I know it's only a matter of time, but it's just bullshit that anyone should have to fight to have the same rights as everyone else.

[Grimmlok]

it's also bullshit that human rights are put up for a majority vote. THERE SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A VOTE.

[Nevan]

^^^ Totally agree. Anybody that even has to think about it need only replace the word "gay" with the words "black" or "women" .....

I have a relative that is very religious and is strongly against gay marriage and rights. I just want to scream at her because if anybody ever thought of taking HER rights away as a WOMAN, there would be blood everywhere. So, why is it different?

[Grimmlok]

It's different because gays are the last minority that is acceptable to bash and use jesus as an excuse

[caramel]

fuck them.

[frecklered]

Originally Posted by Grimmlok

It's different because gays are the last minority that is acceptable to bash and use jesus as an excuse

I agree this is true. Years from now we'll be looking back at this and wondering how we could even have controversy over gay marriage, just like we do now with a woman's right to vote.

I have a ton of friends that worked on the No on 1 campaign in Maine, and there's no way this is over. They're disappointed but still really fired up.

[scooter]

This is being approached completly incorrectly IMO. Instead of a state by state referendum, this should be a challenge brought before the US Supreme Court as this law being unconstitutional. I quote the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution:
"Nor shall any State deny any person within it's jurisdition the equal protection under the Law".
That means Gay, Straight, Bi, Black, White,Asian, Latin, Handicapped, Not. EQUAL. That is the obvious constitutional challenge. Progress took a step back again today. People were so irate about that JOP who wouldnt marry the bi racial couple. But this nonsense is mainstream. Go figure.

[DolceVita]

I think all gay people should move to the UK as you can marry here and have tea and scones with Stephen Fry.
What is Maine anyway?! What have they given to the world? Maybe they have snow , not sure.