A couple of months ago, in I Know Where All the Democrats Have Gone, I wrote:
They've gone to Maine, where they've been working hard and long to convince Maine voters to reconsider their ban on marriage equality, and to undo their state's new law forbidding same-day voter registration.
And now we have some awesome news on the marriage equality front. The folks from EqualityMaine, WhyMarriageMatters, and hundreds of volunteers across the state have reached a milestone:
They're more than halfway to their goal of 80,000 signatures.
I am proud to say that we have reached the halfway point in our signature gathering drive to put marriage on the ballot in 2012... The fact that we have gathered more than 40,000 signatures in less than six weeks is nothing short of remarkable.
-- Equality Maine email blast
They've collected what I hear tell is excess of 42,000 signatures, although their press release only says more than 40,000.
This in about a month and a half, with three more months still to go. At a bare minimum they need 57,000 valid signatures to get a marriage equality initiative onto the November, 2012 ballot. They're 74% of the way to that first milestone, and almost 53% of the way to certain victory. Signature gathering began around August 18th, so they've been collecting at a rate of almost exactly 1000 signatures per day. They have another 94 days to collect the remaining 38,000 signatures. It's looking good.
Let's hear it
- For all the Mainers who've been out there gathering!
- All the organizers!
- Everyone who's donated to keep the effort rolling!
In an interesting development, Dan Demeritt, former Communications and Political Director to Maine's Republican Governor LePage has 'come out' in favor of marriage equality:
"I signed the Equality Maine petition today. Tough times easier with loving spouse. I wish the same support for everyone."
"I believe that you ought to be able to exercise your freedoms and rights right up until they start infringing on mine," said Demeritt. "I think there's a strong belief, particularly among people under the tea party banner and among the newly engaged, in personal responsibility and individual choice and freedoms."
"I've certainly had a tumultuous year and having a loving spouse made it easier to navigate and get through and I think everyone should be able to have that, to have the whole thing," said Demeritt
While he had voted in favor of marriage equality in 2009, he kept his support quiet until a recent conversation with a friend and former colleague.
"I was talking to her a few days before the tweet. She has had a partner for 20 years and I asked her if they would get married if they could," explained Demeritt. "She said absolutely. She explained all the steps they've had to take to protect themselves and their interests. That's why I sent the tweet out. It just really hit home for me."
And here's an encouraging note from Beth Allen, an organizer in Brewer, Maine, about how attitudes are changing in the Pine Tree state:
We heard from people who said they weren't supportive in 2009, but had since changed their minds on the issue. One woman talked about how she'd gotten to know a same-sex couple who are raising a family together and seen how loving and committed they are. It was a great example of how people's hearts and minds change when they get to know their gay and lesbian neighbors.
Support from Libertarian-minded people like Demeritt and neighbors who've gotten to know same-sex couples in the last few years might just be enough to tip the scales in favor of the referendum, unlike in 2009 where a similar question went down to defeat 47%-53%. The prospect of a Presidential election year, with a younger electorate on average than in 2009, should also boost the proposal's chances.
Should Maine succeed in passing it's marriage equality initiative, it will have become the first state to legalize same-sex marriage by a vote of the people. That will be one for the history books.
You can help with the effort here.
If you're in or close to Maine, you can volunteer here.
8:21 AM PT: You can weigh in on whether Oregon should, like Maine, put a ballot initiative for marriage equality on its November, 2012 ballot.
8:44 AM PT: Sign a petition:
WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:
Issue an Executive Order barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for federal contractors.
In 1941, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, requiring all defense contracts to include provisions barring private contractors from discrimination as to "race, creed, color or national origin."
We call upon the Administration to issue a similar executive order requiring all federal contracts to include provisions barring private contractors from discrimination with respect to sexual orientation.
URL to sign this petition at 'We The People'