While the world has been #occupied with #occupations, the fight for marriage equality continues with or without the headlines.
The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, just announced that she had acquiesced to holding a conscience vote in Parliament on the question of same-sex marriage. She is personally opposed to same-sex marriage and had previously been unwilling to consider the issue.
This isn't much of a concession, since the conscience vote is doomed to fail unless the opposition leader, Tony Abott, releases his minions as well to vote their consciences instead of his party's line against marriage equality. Which, as far as anyone can tell, ain't gonna happen.
Still, with poll after poll showing supermajority support for marriage equality, a recent poll showing that Gillard's Labor party would benefit by supporting marriage equality, and the government of the United Kingdom's recent embrace (at least in principle) of same-sex marriage, just how long can the inevitable be delayed?
More inevitability below the squiggle.
In Maine, the incredible work of Equality Maine and their host of volunteers on election day was overshadowing by those awesome results on Question 1 -- overwhelming support to keep same-day voter registration.
If anything, the results Equality Maine announced were even more stunning. They collected over 35,000 signatures that day, bringing the total number of signatures for a marriage equality ballot initiative to almost 100,000 -- 20,000 more than their target of 80,000 and almost double the legally required number of signatures. From the email annoucement by Betsy Smith, EQCA Executive Director:
We did it! Yesterday, hundreds of volunteers from all over Maine gathered more than 35,000 signatures, bringing our statewide total to almost 100,000!
This incredible accomplishment brings us one step closer to winning marriage at the ballot next year...
Yesterday, as volunteers gathered signatures for marriage, folks statewide reported enthusiasm and changed minds -- a volunteer in a small town kept calling to ask if she could stay longer because she was so excited how many people were signing.
A man in a northern, rural town told us he wouldn’t have signed two years ago, and when we asked what changed his mind he said, simply, "My daughter."
The work we’re doing to move more Mainers to support marriage is working.
There is now no question that this initiative, the first of it's kind in the nation and possibly the world, will be on the ballot in November, 2012. The real battle -- to win marriage equality at the polls for the first time in history -- can begin, annd it's looking good. From PPP's latest polling:
"Do you think same-sex marriage should be legal or illegal?"
Legal: 51%
Illegal: 42%
"Do you favor a law allowing marriage licenses for same-sex couples that protects religious freedom by ensuring no religion or clergy be required to perform such a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs?
In Favor: 48%
Not In Favor: 35%
In Washington State, a big push is underway to introduce and vote on marriage equality legislation in this year's session of the State Legislature. It could be now or "never", as there is a good possibility that a Republican might win the Governor's mansion in 2013.
Dozens of state lawmakers in Washington are expected next week to introduce a bill that would legalize gay marriage in the state.
Democratic state Senator Ed Murray from Seattle is the chief sponsor of the bill.
During a recent interview with National Public Radio (NPR), Murray said the recent passage of such a law in New York had renewed momentum in Washington.
"I think the public is now with us. And that's why I think we should move it in the Legislature. And that's why we waited. That's why we did domestic partnership first; the public wasn't with us yet. I think they are there now."
"I think we've changed hearts and minds..."
If passed, as with a similar bill in Maryland that is likely to come up for a vote in 2012, the legislation would be subject to a "people's veto" referendum if enough signatures are gathered in opposition (a near certainty). But recent polling suggests that Washington voters are not likely to reject the legislation:
Next year the legislature could pass a law allowing gay and lesbian couples to get married. If that happens, there could be a referendum in which voters would be asked to approve or reject the law. If such a referendum were held today:
Would you vote YES -- that is, to keep a law in place allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry OR would you vote NO, against the law -- to make it so that gay and lesbian couples could not marry?
Yes: 55%
No: 38%
Perhaps a bigger problem will be getting it through the legislature, in particular the Senate. The bill's sponsors acknowledge that while they believe they have the votes in the House, they do not yet have enough votes in the State Senate. Perhaps it will be time soon for Governor Cuomo to go national and pay a visit to Governor Gregoire with some advice in the art of legislator persuasion.
State by state, reluctant Prime Minister by reluctant Prime Minister, poll by poll and voter by voter, it will happen.