Marriage equality rights put up for a vote in Maine failed to garner the support needed to survive yesterday’s election.
The National Organization for Marriage, the same organization that worked tirelessly to pass Prop 8 in California, contributed upwards of 1.6 million dollars to repeal gay marriage rights in the state, yet only managed to achieve a 53%-47% victory. The reality is this organization is going to continue to go after states like Iowa, Connecticut, and Vermont, and we have to be ready. We can blog until we’re blue in the face, but if we don’t turn out on election day, then our voices simply will not be heard. In the meantime, write to your senators and legislators, and make your voice heard.
Governor John Baldacci of Maine put it simply, ”A civil union is not equal to a civil marriage.”
Lots of Mainers were fighting hard. At the very least, it was a close one. While heartbreaking, we are not retreating. It’s only a matter of time.