Maine's Senate passed a gay marriage bill last week, 21-14. Today, its lower chamber passed the bill 89-58.
The bill must apparently be re-approved by both chambers, which should be easy enough, and on to Democratic Gov. John Baldacci. Baldacci has previously opposed gay marriage, but has recently shown some flexibility, claiming he is rethinking his views. Assuming the governor does the right thing, the bigots are mobilizing for a ballot initiative that would veto the law.
Gay marriage foes have already committed to its repeal. Mike Heath, head of the Maine Family Policy Council, announced the effort in an email Friday.
"Maine's Legislature will eliminate civil marriage by the end of May. We have started a People's Veto," the group's website says. "Maine people twice rejected 'gay' rights in the past decade. Homosexuality is very sad, and sinful. Maine must not create a culture that winks at something so debilitating on so many levels. To present this 'orientation' as benign to impressionable children is the height of arrogance, and surely qualifies as evil."
Heath did lead to successful anti-gay ballot initiatives in past years, but America is changing, becoming more tolerant. In Maine, the issue splits the state down the middle:
The poll, conducted by a Portland-based firm earlier this month, showed that 47.3 percent of those surveyed support changing Maine statutes to allow marriage licenses to be issued to any two people regardless of their sex while 49.5 percent oppose it. The rest of the Maine residents polled hadn’t made up their minds on the issue. The poll has a margin of error rate of 4.9 percent.
The march toward equality continues forward, no matter how hard the retrograde bigots try to hold on to their policy of discrimination and hatred.
Also great news out of DC:
An overwhelming majority on the D.C. Council voted today to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, sending the District deeper into the national debate and galvanizing supporters on both sides of the issue.
The measure, approved by a vote of 12 to 1, now goes to Mayor Arian M. Fenty (D), a supporter of gay marriage.
If Fenty signs it, the District will put the same-sex marriage issue directly before the Congress. Under Home Rule, the District's laws are subject to a 30-day congressional review period.
The lone vote against was from Marion Barry, even though some of his best friends are gay.
If Congress does not try to block the bill to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, Catania has said he will introduce a separate bill later this year to allow same-sex marriages to be conducted in the District.
(Discussion of the Maine House vote is also going on in Spud1's diary. --Susan)
