07/08/2009
Marriage-Equality Foes Reach Signature Goal in Maine
Via Leave it to Seaver: Stand for Marriage Maine—dedicated to ending marriage equality in the state—has collected approximately 55,087 signatures toward putting a People's Veto of the same-sex marriage bill (signed into law by Governor John Baldacci in May) on the ballot this November. The signatures must still be validated, which might be difficult considering the rumors of bait-and-switch tactics in gathering them.
The little girl with the "ha ha, I'ma take away your rights" grin and pose is from the Web site for Stand for Marriage Maine. Let's wipe that smile off her face and defeat the measure if it comes to a vote, Mainers.
Posted 2:27 PM EST by Matthew Rettenmund in Gay Marriage, Maine | Permalink
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I'm with Dan Savage.
These hate-filled, un-American fascists are simply assholes.
I hope they determine the signatures are invalid and throw it out.
I hope that if it DOES come to a vote, Maine citizens do the proper and American thing and vote for EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL.
And I hope that a Dyke on a Bike kicks that little girl's hate-filled mother square in her hate-filled, clap-infected cunt.
Posted by: RW in LGB | Jul 8, 2009 2:57:35 PM
Name calling is hardly worth the time. It amazes me that the millionaire Gay folk out in America don't start initiative processes that define what a "Civil Right" is. And if one citizen enjoys that "Civil Right" than no other citizen can be denied that "Civil Right" through a vote of the people.
Seems to me the efforts are always Reactionary and never Proactionary.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Jul 8, 2009 3:12:07 PM
Rather than comment on a blog to express your displeasure about the anti's getting enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, why don't you do something?
A donation to either Maine Freedom to Marry (http://mainefreedomtomarry.com/) or the Task Force (http://thetaskforce.org/) could be a good place to start. Both have dedicated resources to defeating the ballot measure.
Just a thought. Or keeping posting here. I'm sure eventually they'll read it and feel bad about what they've done.
Posted by: Brian | Jul 8, 2009 4:01:58 PM
As neither Mainer nor millionaire I feel completely justified, Sargon, in saying that the SFMM are still despicable assholes and I hope each and every one of them suffers a fecal impaction.
Posted by: FizziekruntNT | Jul 8, 2009 4:07:16 PM
Ranting here with like-minded allies gains us nothing. Give up something to win this war. Money, time, expertise in some skill these orgs need. Figure out whatever you can do to help the cause, then do it. I am.
Posted by: NR | Jul 8, 2009 4:57:13 PM
We thought they couldn't get the hundreds of thousands of signatures in California. We thought for sure something would happen that would cause the sec. of state to invalidate enough of them to prevent the ballot measure. It's all pipe dreams folks, and I'm not sure whether or not it's a pipe dream to expect Mainers to actually vote against an anti-marriage equality law.
Where was the "decline to sign" movement in Maine?
Posted by: Bruno | Jul 8, 2009 6:03:45 PM
Where the hell is the "Who signed" in Maine?
Posted by: Stephen | Jul 8, 2009 6:41:12 PM
@Bruno and Stephen
Come on, it's 55,000 signatures, obviously they were going to collect them. Everyone here knew instantly that it would go to referendum.
It won't be voted down though, the student population here is large and I'm sure eager to be involved in this.
Posted by: Washington | Jul 8, 2009 7:19:41 PM
@Bruno and Stephen
Come on. It's only 55,000 signatures, obviously they were going to collect them. Everyone here knew instantly that this would go to referendum.
However, it won't be voted down. The student population here is large and extremely liberal, they're eager to get involved in this.
Posted by: Washington | Jul 8, 2009 7:22:41 PM
I know it was going to a referendum. It still doesn't excuse why there's no names being plastered on the internet.
Anyways, it'll probably by voted down twice before it actually passes.
Posted by: Stephen | Jul 8, 2009 7:51:10 PM
Just a note to those looking for a "Who Signed?" type web site. The signatures are only in the hands (or is it minds) of the gatherers. They are not a matter of public record until they are turned over to the Secretary of State. I am sure a movement is in the works to get the names out there. We just don't have them yet.
Also, As someone that has been part of getting signatures for a ballot measure, albeit a much nobler one, I would point out most signature gathering campaigns shoot for a 20% cushion to account for those signatures that will be deemed invalid: not registered, adress mismatch, "Mickey Mouse," etc. 55,000 is nowhere near the cushion. This isn't a done deal yet.
Posted by: Dennis | Jul 8, 2009 9:44:40 PM
Homosexuality is not a sin according to the Bible. Any educated Christian would know that. Scholars who have studied the Bible in context of the times and in relation to other passages have shown those passages (Leviticus, Corinthians, Romans, etc) have nothing to do with homosexuality. These passages often cherry-picked while ignoring the rest of the Bible. The sins theses passages are referring to are idolatry, prostitution, and rape, not homosexuality.
http://www.soulfoodministry.org/docs/English/NotASin.htm
http://www.jesus21.com/content/sex/bible_homosexuality_print.html
http://www.christchapel.com/romans_inter.html
http://www.stjohnsmcc.org/new/BibleAbuse/BiblicalReferences.php
http://www.gaychristian101.com/
Thats why Jesus never mentions it as well. There is nothing immoral, wrong, or sinful about being gay. Jesus, however, clearly states he HATES hypocrites. If you preach goodness, then promote hate and twist the words of the Bible, you are a hypocrite, and will be judged and sent to hell. Homosexuals will not go to hell, hypocrites will.
Posted by: shadow_man | Jul 9, 2009 5:40:52 AM
Homosexuality is NOT a choice. Just like you don't choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men's Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. "Nurture" may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.
Posted by: shadow_man | Jul 9, 2009 5:41:35 AM
Here is why the slippery slope argument fails.
Let us take the 4 common arguments: beastiality, pedophilia, incest, and polygamy. First off, all 4 of these are fetishes, and irrelevant to homosexuality, which is a sexual orientation. Let me distinguish this for you using incest as an example. If a guy into incest is straight, he'll choose his sister, and if he's gay, he'll choose his brother. See the distinguishment? Now pedophilia and beastiality will never be legal, because both are non-consenting and harmful, whereas homosexuality is 2 loving consenting adults that is not wrong or harmful. Incest, also has been shown to lead to genetic defects, so that is also out of the question. Incest also is a fetish, not a sexual orientation. I have never seen a person exclusively attracted to their brothers/sisters etc. Which leaves polygamy. Now i'll prove why homosexuality also won't lead to polygamy.
Who the two people getting married are, is a completely different question in law than how many people can marry. The states have all agreed to prohibit polygamous marriage. They have given numerous public policy reasons and the prohibition stands.
Equal protect applies so long as a rational public policy reason exists to prohibit certain marriages.What is the rational public policy reason for prohibiting a gay couple from marrying? Six states and seven jurisdictions have said there isn't one.
No court or legislature has made a finding that letting two people of the same-sex marry will somehow permit more than two people of any gender to marry. Allowing prisoners to marry and allowing inter-racial couples to marry didn't make polygamy acceptable and it didn't make all married couples criminals or bi-racial. You have no point, you are relying on assumptions and "what ifs" that have been proven to be myths and false. There is no evidence showing gay marriage having a higher chance of leading to polygamy than heterosexual marriage.
All 50 states and the federal government have said there is a public policy reason to prohibit polygamous marriages. With 5 years of gay marriage in Massachusetts, no one has asked to marry more than one other person in Massachusetts, let alone say the 14th amendment of the US Constitution gives them that right.
The slippery slope is a myth meant as a scare tactic that's quickly becoming obsolete.
Posted by: shadow_man | Jul 9, 2009 5:42:08 AM
Violence against a minority group
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violence_against_LGBT_people
Gays are being beaten, shot at, sent to the hospital, killed. In the Middle East, they are killing gays among other groups out of hatred. Is this what we want America to become? Do we want America to revert back to the 1960's when groups were killed and segregated against for simply no good reason? Do we want to follow the ways of the Middle East and Al Queda? Let's push forward, it's time to end bigotry, discrimination, hate, and ignorance. This is modern America, not the Dark Ages.
Posted by: shadow_man | Jul 9, 2009 5:42:53 AM