Voting is coming up soon, with only a couple weeks left to make a decision. I already voted by absentee ballot because I’m currently away on vacation with my family. Before leaving, we reconstructed and repainted our giant marriage equality sign from 2009. Look for it on route 1 in Belfast, near Dairy Queen / EBS / Circle K / Pizza Hut.
The consensus from last night’s debate seems to be that Obama won, which gives him 2 out of 3. For the first time in history we have a president who is openly in favor of marriage equality. Three other states besides Maine will be voting on this issue in November. Prop 8 and DOMA are both in the high courts and I expect the US Supreme Court will rule on nationwide / Federal marriage rights within the next year or two. That will no doubt have a blanket effect akin to Loving v. Virginia, but it would still be symbolic if Maine were the first state to legalize same-sex marriage via popular vote.
If you are a Mainer or live in one of other three states that will be voting on this issue next month, I hope you will vote in favor of equality. Marriage equality will not affect anyone except the already existing families that wish to have civil recognition under state law. This won’t have any impact on churches or other individual freedoms – in fact, the law actually protects religious freedom by specifically stating that no organization, entity, or individual will ever be forced to perform a marriage ceremony if such a ceremony would conflict with their religious beliefs. Please Vote YES on 1.
