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Voters in Maryland and Maine on Tuesday approved measures to allow same-sex marriage, the first time gay marriage has been approved by statewide popular votes.
In all, voters in four states – Maine, Maryland, Washington and Minnesota - considered ballot measures Tuesday on the issue of same-sex marriage.
Minnesota voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent, NBC News projected Wednesday morning. In Washington, the vote was still too close to call; however with just over half of the vote counted, the same-sex referendum was leading 52 to 48 percent, according to NBC’s electoral map.
Proponents of same-sex marriage celebrating their first popular vote victories.
“Tonight we’ve taken the talking point away that marriage equality cannot win at the ballot box,” said Fred Sainz, vice president of communications with the Human Rights Campaign, which invested millions of dollars in same-sex marriage initiatives.
Sainz gave some of the credit for the victory to President Barack Obama’s support for same-sex marriage.
The president said that his decision was informed by speaking with Americans including servicemen and women he met during the work to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
Obama’s challenger, Mitt Romney, had said that he would support and champion legislation defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Sainz said he thought Americans have become more understanding of why gay and lesbian couples want to marry.
“The hearts and minds of the American public have changed,” he said. “For years now we’ve been having a long extended conversation and connecting with them about how marriage equality is about love, family and commitment, which are common human factors."
Opponents of same-sex marriage dismissed that argument, however. Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, noted that dozens of states have passed laws in recent years defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
He called states like Maryland “the most liberal of liberal states” and not a proxy for the general population.
“For the gay marriage groups to win in the most liberal states is not a tipping point at all,” Brown said.
The measures came as Americans appear to be growing more comfortable with the idea of gay marriage.
A Pew Research Center poll this summer found that 48 percent of Americans favor same-sex marriage, up from 31 percent in 2004.
Democrats were the strongest proponents, with 65 percent favoring same-sex marriage in the Pew survey. Only 24 percent of Republicans favor gay marriage, while 51 percent of independents favor it.
Although these are the first statewide voting victories for gay marriage, gay marriage has been legalized in some states through legislative or court action. Those include Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
More than 30 states, including Arizona, Colorado and Texas, have laws or constitutional provisions defining marriage as between a man and a woman, according to the National Council of State Legislatures.
Here’s a look at the four states that voted on the issue in this election.
Maine: This was the second time voters in Maine were faced with a decision over same-sex marriage. A bill allowing same-sex marriage was passed by the state legislature in 2006, but voters overturned it in 2009.
Maryland: In Maryland, voters were asked to uphold a law allowing same-sex marriage that the governor signed into law last March.
Minnesota: In Minnesota, voters were asked whether the state constitution should explicitly define marriage as between one man and one woman. Gay marriage is already banned under state law; writing the ban into to the constitution, proponents argued, would have protected the amendment from being overturned in the future.
Washington: In Washington state, the legislature approved same-sex marriage earlier this year, and the law was scheduled to take effect in June. But opponents of the law were able to get a referendum on the ballot asking voters if they want to uphold the law.
More election coverage from NBCNews.com:
- Obama wins re-election; Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin prove pivotal
- Democrats gain in Senate with wins in four states
- Rape remarks sink two Republican Senate hopefuls
- Maine's Harley-riding King vowed to 'shake up' D.C.
- Republicans to maintain control of House, NBC News projects
- Colorado, Washington approve recreational marijuana use
- In 11 governor races, it's about jobs and taxes
- Majority of voters see American on wrong track
Leave a Comment:
Geez, why not. We've messed up every other election out there tonight.
yes, you're correct, equal rights for all here in america? that's crazy talk!
For those of you who might be inclined to suggest that this election changed NOTHING, clinging as you do to hate and fear, consider this: Importantly, tonight Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America, to serve through 2016.
Of equal importance, tonight Hillary Clinton was also elected President of the United States, to serve from 2016 through 2024...and there is no force on earth, none, which can preclude her ascendency.
Whatismore, tonight the Supreme Court began its unstoppable march toward progressivism. By the time Hillary departs the Oval Office, the Court will be a youthful Center-Left province, perhaps 6-3.
Sadly, it has become clear that the modern Republican Party no longer has a future at the national level, or at least for as long as they continue to ostracize the voices of compromise and moderation within their own ranks.
For the most part, with the possible exception of Ted Cruz and perhaps one or two others, those Tea Party candidates who didn't lose outright won by the slimmest of margins. Bachmann and West will likely go down within the hour.
Tonight, a majority of voters across the American political landscape chose Barack Obama and the Democrat agenda. The President won both the popular vote AND the Electoral College. The President's Senate majority increased. The Republican Party failed to expand its majority in the House.
This win was as decisive as it was overwhelming.
This election changed EVERYTHING.
Just the beginning. The Republicans are becoming less relevant by the day, mostly serving as a bunch of crybabies crossing their arms and stamping their feet while the rest of the country moves forward. Same sex marriage is destined to become common, in time.
There is nothing about this election that presupposes a Democratic victory (let alone one for Hillary Clinton) in 2016. If fact, historically it has been very difficult for the controlling party to retain the White House after a two term president.
Also consider that President Obama won the 2008 vote by a popular margin of 7%, or ten million votes. Tonight's victory is within 1% (so far) and about one million votes. That also points to a turn-over coming in four years.
You shouldn't be so cocky when the margins are so close between a seated president and such a wildly unpopular Republican contender.
public. A win is a win.
That is completely wrong. Parties that are in power or gain the presidency during an economic recovery (as Obama's party now will) tend to benefit from that recovery for a decade or more regardless of whether they initiated that recovery.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding the acceptance of gay marriage, Maryland's result simply demonstrates it's inevitability.
publicmonster: Demographics get worse for Republicans every year. That's just a fact. This year might well have been the GOP's last gasp of relevance.
Also keep in mind that most economists actually think the President's steps the last 4 years are just now beginning to bear their fruit and that we're looking at a possible 12 million job recovery in the next 4 years. By owning the WH the Dems will reap the majority of the credit should that happen.
Well not from you troglodytes on the Right,but less and less of this country cares what you think anyway.
This is great news. Equal Marriage rights for all americans is coming via the US Supreme Court in 2013.
HooooooRAY!!!!!!!!!!
It does not affect me in the slightest whether two girls or two guys decide to get married, by whatever religious authority or civil authority they choose.
IT DOES affect me, however, if they do not get the same rights that my husband and I get, because we are all Americans and limiting one American's rights sends a (clearly unconstitutional) message of separate and unequal.
Today we've taken another step toward the 'All men are created equal' idea that our founding fathers envisioned at the dawn of this country's history, and one more step toward separation of Church and State.
I say agan: HoooooRAY!!!!
Pendragon, how exactly does a vote for same sex marriage = "mess up"? We've had it here in Massachusetts for several years now, and guess what? MOST people are still heterosexual, (Imagine!) most of them marry and have kids, (This can't be true!) and their straight children are NOT "deciding" to (Gasp!) "become" gay. Life goes on. Giving equal rights to a minority which will always BE a minority changes NOTHING for anyone, EXCEPT for members OF that minority, members who pay taxes, fight in wars, and serve society in ways that you and all of us benefit from.
Isn't that the definition of a conservative? They're always trying to stop the future, and they always fail.
nik: however, here in vermont, where we also have gay marriage, civilization HAS fallen. Children scavenge trash cans for food, life expectancy has fallen to 35, and we live in mud huts.
Or not.
God Bless WE THE PEOPLE of Maine and Maryland!!! I'm so happy!!!!!!!
Yeah, the voters messed up by proclaiming that all men (and women) are equal.
t('-'t)
Except that she has already said she was not going to run for president. Don't get me wrong, I would vote for her. I think she would make an excellent president, but I do not believe we are going to have that opportunity.
I'm a very happy leftist, libbie, loon or whatever it is the right wing is calling me on Newsvine today!
"The moral arch of universe is long, but it bends towards justice" - MLK Jr.
Sarah:
Me too! HoooooRAY!!!!
I'm a moderate independent (who is constantly accused of being a liberal by RWNJs), and I'm celebrating!
Wow! "All men and women are created equal!" Ever hear that somewhere before?
Wow! "All men and women are created equal!" Ever hear that somewhere before?
Wow! "All men and women are created equal!" Ever hear that somewhere before?
Except Hilolary herself who has stated more than time and time again, despite people who don't want to listen, that she has no intention of ever running for anything again. Let's just say for the sake of things that someone manages to convince her to run..she still has to get through the primaries and past any and all other potential Dem candidates.
As for gay marriage, I voted for it but only because the laguage indicated churches would not be forced to perform the ceremonies; in short they will be civil unions which I have never had a problem with anyway.
Lynn3765
I am glad you voted for gay marriage. It's good that churches will not be force to perform the ceremonies. That's the way it should be. However, what you may have missed... is marriage does not have to take place in a church. It can take place at the justice of the peace, and its NOT a civil union then. Its recognized as marriage, and that's just the way it should be.
This is a great day in the United States of America. We are 1 step away from SCOTUS declaring EQUAL MARRIAGE rights for everyone.
Sarah-3043284 & vermontguy
Love the posts as always... This is a great day for America :)
Unfortunately not. That's why it has taken so long for women to get the vote (which we finally did) and equal rights (coming along, still down on the equal pay part).
But, with this election I do see some hope on the horizon.
My sentiments exactly. My conservative friends always point out my "liberal side" and call me a lefty. My liberal friends do the opposite. HMMM ... that should say SOMETHING right? LOL
Centrist Party of the USA anyone?
That is very unlikely.
They will not be 'civil unions'. They will be marriages.
You say you voted ONLY because it wouldn't force churches to marry gays/lesbians? You didn't vote for it because it would give a marginalized portion of our population equal rights? Does this mean you still don't think all Americans should have the same rights?
The marriage equality debate has never once been about forcing churches to marry gays/lesbians. It's been about giving everyone the same rights and protections to everyone. It's been about giving all religions and religious practitioners equal protections, rights, and recognitions.
My religion welcomes gays and lesbians. One of our guiding tenets says 'All acts of love and pleasure are My gifts.' To that end, our priestesses and our priests could marry our gays (the Minoan Brotherhood) and our lesbians (the Dianics) if the two parties in question consented to celebrate the Goddess's gift of pleasure only with each other.
However, two of our Dianics or two of our Minoans were forbidden governmental recognition of their decision to unify by the government even though other practitioners of our religion could be acknowledged. This clearly infringed on our constitutional right to practice our religion as we so choose. I personally know of two of our Dianics who have been married in the eyes of our religion for the last ten years, but have not been recognized and given equal rights. Now they can.
So to me, the marriage equality debate HAS been about religious freedom and equal rights for everyone.
Since you seem to have the inside track on what God does/doesn't think, can you tell me what he was thinking when he created the platypus? That is one whacked out, looking animal.
Jeez, it must suck to know that you can pray and slur and spew all the hatred you want, but you can't turn back the clock of social justice. Huh? Feels a bit futile, I bet.
Nothing left to do, but spout irrelevant, religious commentary. This is gonna be awweeeessssoooommmeeee!
Opponents of marriage equality have called judges who've ruled such bans unconstitutional activists, legislators who've passed marriage equality rogues, and the president who refuses to defend federal legislation banning recognition of legal marriages a tyrant.
Now that the voters have spoken and vindicated the victims of gay bashers' rhetoric, I wonder what equality opponents will call said voters. Also, I wonder what tactics they'll try next to undo the will of the people, even though they've long claimed it's the will of the people that should be allowed to ban marriage equality, despite the unconstitutionality of such bans.
One can only hope. I say that not being affiliated with any party. Until the day we no longer have "political parties", the "best person for the job" will never be elected.
Until that day, elections may as well be a sporting event with everyone wearing their respective team colors and rooting for their team regardless of the consequences.
Did you see the new species of fish discovered in Vietnam earlier this year? Do a google search for 'Phallostethus cuulong'.
The Platypus was weird--this one is weirder. SERIOUSLY weirder. This one proved to me that if there is an Omnipotent Being out there, that Deity definitely has a sense of humor.
Basically, at this point, opponents of marriage equality would do well to kindly sit the @!$%# down and shut the @!$%# up, because they're wrong, and now 10 (and possibly even 11) states, a good 20-22% of the nation, have told them so.
As if they didn't already look fanatical, even retarded, they're only going to look even more so from here on out. So, it'll be completely on them when they're driven into the nuthouse by continuing to garner such a vile reputation and turning the entire country against them.
Amanda,
Or what about the pee-pee mouth turtle?
http://www.livescience.com/23893-turtle-pees-from-mouth.html
Sarah - Perhaps you should look in the mirror to see the hate spewer. I don't have any additional inside track on what God wants, but his word is pretty clear on homosexuality. I don't really see what any of that has to do with a platypus, but libs like you aren't known for rationality.
Colorado-Man
I'll ask you one question. Where is god referenced in the United States of America's Constitution? Answer: He's not. God does not make the secular laws for the United States. When the newest GOP member of Congress swears his hand on the bible (tradition), he will take the oath to serve protect and defend the Constitution, not the bible.
Keep your freedom of religion, practice them all you want, that's an American right. However, I also have the rights to reject religious beliefs, and live in a government where there is no national religion either.
As I stated in my post I never had a problem with civil unions (as in non-church) perfromed ceremonies for gay couples and before I get jumped on again for that comment, yes I realize marriages by a justice of the peace are marriages but I consider them a "civil" as in court related, ceremony.
Had the language in the motion said churches had no choice but had to perfrom marriages if requested than no, I wouldn't have voted for it. Not becasue I don't think gay couples should marry but because a church should not be forced to perform a ceremony.
These mixe4d bills/actions whatever you want to call them are always a problem as some parts I will agree with while others I won't. They deliberately put things that way so you have no choice but to vote yes to cover the portions you want to see passed..the government, as in national, does this as well.
In thnis case it was a moot point. The request/action was written so that churches are not required to perfrom the marriage so again, no problem with a justice of the peace or court ceremony. You have your religion Amanda and I have mine; I happen to be Lutheran. I won't apologize for my indecision, it just is.
That language was for the benefit of people exactly like you, who didn't already understand that no church can ever be forced by the government to perform any religious ritual due to the 1st Amendment. The marriage equality issue has always been about the civil contract of marriage, not the religious rite of holy matrimony.
The fact that it was a concern of yours shows that NOM's misleading strategies worked to confuse and misinform the public. It also shows that the advocates of marriage equality were wise to have that clarification in the referendum (and in the new law), even though it was 100% unnecessary from a legal standpoint.
The Unitarian sect of Christianity performs same-sex marriages. There are also a few other sects of Christianity that do as well. So becasuse these same-sex marriages take place in a church, by your reasoning they ARE called marriages--would you prefer that they not be called 'marriages' even though a church official presided over them?
And there are marriages performed by captains of ships, sometimes military personnel--would that not be a 'marriage' either?
Our Minoans and Dianics are married by our Priests and Priestesses--and we are an officially recognized religion by the US government. So should our marriages be considered civil unions even though they are presided over by a priest?
I'm not trying to be contentious, I'm genuinely curious as to why you prefer the term 'civil union' over 'marriage' for same-sex marriages even when it is a religious official who has married the two consenting parties.
And you didn't vote for it because it means equal rights for ALL Americans, you just voted because it said churches wouldn't be forced to perform them. Do you think gays and lesbians shouldn't get equal rights then?
Colorado Man,
I think YOUR God is too busy hating Scallops and cotton-poly blends to worry about me.
I also think you probably still shop at Wal-Mart and eat at Red Lobster, though, huh?
Again, you libs appear too ignorant to follow what is going on. I was responding to the author of 1.14 who referenced God blessing the people of Maine and Maryland for passing the same sex marriage issues. I didn't reference the constitution or try to insert God into it. Sarah, then, who apparently has very little understanding of scriptures made a stupid comment.
Another ignorant comment that shows you really know nothing about scripture. God had a reason for not mixing crops and their products and if you knew anything about science you would know why that is, too. The dietary laws were clearly abolished in the New testament, but the ban on homosexuality wasn't. But I wouldn't expect you to be intellectually honest enough to acknowledge that.
Funny, all these people keep saying that we shouldn't be allowed under law to call our unions marriages, even though the First Amendment gives all of us both freedom of speech (which allows us to call our marriages whatever we want, including, yes, marriages) as well as freedom of religion (which means I'm allowed to believe my marriage is just as holy, sanctioned and valid in the eyes of my god as anyone else's).
No religion or church holds a copyright/trademark/patent on the institution of marriage, so no one has control over who gets to use the word. And it takes a particularly damnable kind of arrogance to believe they do.
Colorado,
The other underlying point of that message is that I don't HAVE to give a @!$%# about scripture.
It may mean something, specifically your OWN interpretation of it, to YOU. But, alas for you, I'm completely free of it.
As I said before, it's ALL over...
Jeez, it must suck to know that you can pray and slur and spew all the hatred you want, but you can't turn back the clock of social justice. Huh? Feels a bit futile, I bet.
Nothing left to do, but spout irrelevant, religious commentary. This is gonna be awweeeessssoooommmeeee!
YOU are proving my point, buddy. You're proving my point.
Apparently Ghandi may have missed a step. He said...
He forgot to add, "And THAN they throw their irrelevant Biblical interpretations at you, and it's HILARIOUS!!!"
And, just for the record, I'm STILL not a pillar of salt.
Again, just examples of YOUR hate spewing. I did not suggest that YOU need to care about scripture, did I? It was you who tried to imply that you had knowledge of them, which it's evident you don't. It was the original poster that suggested that God should bless the people of the states. I simply suggested that the blessing from God is unlikely to happen. But please don't let the facts prevent you from going ballistic and trying to impress us through your lack of understanding of your limited knowledge.
Actually no, that would be my spewing my freedom of religion.
Sure you do. You support the ban on gay marriage. If I were gay, you would ABSOLUTELY be telling me I have to follow your scripture.
So Leviticus has no mention of not eating shellfish, or mixing types of threads?
I simply suggested that everyone's interpretation of God is different and although YOUR God may not bless them, some other's God will.
But don't let that stop you from being presumptuous.
Sarah,
In addition to your limited understanding of Biblical knowledge, you evidently can't read or comprehend either. Saying "that I don't HAVE to give a @!$%# about scripture" is, in fact, hateful and vulgar.
I didn't suggest that YOU have to follow anything, so you are apparently a liar, as well.
I already addressed your lack of knowledge about the Levitical dietary laws and the change in the New Testament, but that again may be due to your lack of reading/comprehension ability.
So, do you believe in Greek mythology and subscribe to the idea that there are multitudes of sovereign gods? I don't think the original poster did or it wouldn't have capitalized God.
Your last statement doesn't really apply to the discussion, but that doesn't surprise me. I do still believe that you have very little understanding of scripture, though you like to believe that you do. Good luck with that.
How is that hateful? Because you care about it? Did I personally insult you by not caring about what you care about? Because I cursed in regards to it? If so, you are way to sensitive to live in a secular free nation.
You must have missed this part above...
Sure you do. You support the ban on gay marriage. If I were gay, you would ABSOLUTELY be telling me I have to follow your scripture.
Since the only reason for DOMA is religious based.
No, you addressed YOUR interpretation...
See, there's MORE than YOUR interpretation. There's EVERY SINGLE INTERPRETATION OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO WANTS TO GIVE A @!$%#.
(Oops I said @!$%# again, I'm soooo hateful)
I'm assuming that poster believes in the Judeo-Christian God as well, but here's the kicker...
THAT STILL DOESN'T MEAN THEIR GOD IS THE SAME AS YOURS.
You mean I don't have knowledge of YOUR interpretation of the scripture. And THAT is what makes you presumptuous and arrogant.
That, without being able to prove a damn thing, you think you've got God, not only proven, but figured out so well that you can degrade everyone else's interpretations of him/her and shove your version down their throat, telling them who we will or won't bless.
"My God can beat your God up"????
Like I said, you know you've lost the fight when your personal, irrelevant Biblical interpretations are the backbone of your case.
Great to see America moving forward!
Indeed it is. Sanity prevails.
NickT-1545438 Great to see America moving forward!
##########
Yes!!! Change is constant if we as a people and nation are to survive first and foremost. I believe that is the point that eludes the Republican Party. We are a nation of different faiths and cultures.... you can't "rubber stamp" one specific religion that defines this great nation of ours... nor did the founding fathers of this nation wanted it that way if you believe truly in the concept of "freedom of religion". Also a seperation of Church and State is important.... Our founding fathers had not so pleasant memories of what the Church of England had done to so many and why so many settlers came here to try to live in peace without Church and State dictating how to live thei lives... Now that last sentence sounds very much like the current Republican agenda to me. Until the Republican Party can get a handle on it's extreme side it will continue to drive even more people away from it.
Twenty years ago I use to be a proud Republican...no more. I don't even recognize what the Grand Old Party has become.
Congrats to Maryland! We in Washington State also won this vote for equal fairness....what a great day for true human beings to push aside hatred and bias!
Almost - I'm in WA too, and, the last I heard it's still too close to call. Cmon WA - you can do it! Equal rights for all!
With 51% of the votes tallied in Washington, equality is winning 52-48.
The disturbing thing is that on all the marriage equality referenda it seems that about 48% of the voters are dumb bigots. I realize that's an improvement from past years, but it doesn't speak favorably of the American electorate.
Resorting to name-calling Shreky? Yeah, everybody who doesn't agree with you is stupid, right? Some of us electorate actually believe the Bible teaching on marriage - are we bigots or do we have a differing world view? You have yours and we are entitled to ours - get used to it.
You mean that you're to marry your brother's wife if he dies without fathering children?
That if you rape a woman and pay her father 50 silver you can take her for your wife?
Those teachings? Or are you talking about the non-existent teachings that you say restrict marriage to man/woman? Note my wording: non-existent; nowhere in the Bible is marriage ever restricted.
You're no different from the Southern Baptists and Mormons 50 years ago who had a "differing world view" on the issue of mixed-race marriage. Like you, they also thought that some Americans should be 2nd-class citizens.
Looks like you're both a bigot and a Christofascist, and don't understand that you can't use the government to impose your sharia laws on other people.
allsgone, I would be embarrassed to post, with your limited understanding of Theology, however I suppose you can't help it. Your views and ideas of scripture are merely non-existent and out of context thoughts from people who desire to live anyway they want without repercussions or accountability. People, like yourself, despise being called out on wrong philosophy, and wrong behaviour. Who says it's wrong? This is your meager attempt to justify your lifestyle.
I have said it before, but it bears repeating....just because people vote something in as law, doesn't mean it is right, moral or good. No matter how low this country goes, or how many people approve, including the supreme court, Homosexuality is not normal or natural. It is a perversion of the original and is deviant and disgusting. Nothing will change this, Nothing.
You should be.
Yet, you are unable to refute them, because you have no strength in your argument.
And I'll say this again: just because a bunch of morons with a sheaf of paper written by more morons almost 2000 years ago claim something is or isn't right/moral/good, doesn't mean it is right/moral/good.
Welcome to the fact that humans are fallible. And like it or not, your precious "holy book" was written by a bunch of humans snorting pixie dust.
And once again, you provide nothing to prove your stance, and nothing to refute the proof we have supplied. Fail.
Go cry in a corner. Your ilk are falling.
pastor65, please mind rule # 1 of the Code of Honor in the future.
Sally...You should be ashamed. You call ME out on personal attacks??? I suggest you read more posts than mine.
Maryland, Maine & Washington affirmed civil rights. Minnesota is too close to call yet, and I am very hopeful that the fair-minded Minnesotans will DEFEAT Amendment 1.
Lets hope bigotry loses nation wide.
What great news, the popular vote here highlights the change that is happening in society. People are starting to realize that this is all about equity between 2 people and love.
Okay my gay pals! You got a reputation of putting on great parties. BRING EM HERE TO MARYLAND!!
So proud of my state! :)
LIke I tell the ones against gay marriage Whoopi Goldberg said it best: Don't believe in gay marriage?!........don't marry a gay person.
MARYLAND BABY! SO PROUD!! :)
Oh, I like that. I will use that one when people start grumbling.
change is happening even faster than I thought. 20 years ago even the dems were against gay marriage (clinton signed DOMA into law) for example...now a majority of americans support it, and states are defeating the fanatics who insist on denying others equal rights.
We most definitely have reached a tipping point. tonight will take a lot of the wind out of the sails of the anti-gay folks. Even they must realize its a losing battle.
In 20 more years (if scotus doesn't overturn it everywhere this year even) gay marriage will be pretty universal in the US.
Heads are exploding everywhere in the Bible Belt tonight.
Same here vermont, I thought this wouldn't happen for another 2-4 years. It's good to see!
Vermont: "Heads are exploding in the Bible Belt" LOL! (I guess God supports love & acceptance)
This is a huge win for equality, and shows the bigots just what's coming for them.
allswell, what is coming for them???? Oh more name calling. How nice. It made your first point moot with the name calling.
Lisa,
Someone who actively supports and passes legislation limiting the civil rights of an entire group of people, without a compelling state reason, but only due to their preconceived, religious ideals or belief that they're "yucky", is, by its very definition, a bigot.
Perhaps Allswell, is bigoted towards bigots??? I think he'd accept that and be comfortable with it.
Sarah, I'm fine w/the vote either way. It does not affect me. People should be able to live and let live. If you think (hopefully a grown person) has the right to sit and name call others who don't believe what he/she does, I find it childish and goes against what his point really is.
Bigot is a viable term for the people who are against equality for no reason than their narrowly defined, constantly disproven, and stubbornly clung to ideals.
I have met those who disagree with SSM who have civil and viable reasons to be so. It is those who run around yelling slurs, death wishes, and general hatefulness who slather themselves in the mud of the name bigot.
Hahaha...I like that. I'm a hypocrite and I know it!
I find that calling people who support anti-equality positions with no good defense of those positions bigots, is NOT name calling, it's the truth. Just like I would be fine with calling a KKK member a racist.
There are universally accepted definitions of these words, and if someone fits within them, I won't tip toe around it. Progress and equality will never be made if we do.
For what it's worth, an alternative to DOMA was a US constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. DOMA defused that possibility.
I predict DOMA to be repealed within the next couple of years. Once that happens, the last barrier to the Full Faith and Credit clause will be down.
Then things will get VERY interesting!
DOMA will be gone within 8 months.
Beth, unfortunately it doesn't work that way in regards to marriage. If it did there would have been no need for Loving v Virginia in regards to mixed-race marriage.
No state has ever been forced under Full Faith & Credit to recognize any out of state marriage which violates its own statutes, and there's SCOTUS precedent to that effect.
Sorry Shrekk - I will not get into any "discussion" with you. Even though, ironically, we share many of the same views, you try to turn everything into a knock down, drag out, and I don't intend to participate.
I can't help but think of the MILLIONS of dollars the Catholic Church and others, led by NOM scare tactics, raised to fight same sex marriage in these states. How that money could have gone to help those effected by Hurricane Sandy.
Maybe Obama should had took the 5 milliom and he could help those effected by Hurricane Sandy
I doubt that Trump has $5 million to give to anyone !
Hey Ray that's awfully generous of you to think about how other people should spend their money. How much did you contribute to those "effected"?
Why didn't Trump offer Mitt 5 million to release HIS college records too?
More like he should have offered Mitt $5 mil to release his last 10 years of tax records like his father did before him.
A donation to the Red Cross , oh yea, and a son in the Military who was sent to Long Island and as we speak is sleeping on a cot in a room with 8 other soldiers after 12/14 hour days.
Wow! You donated your son?
So...does anyone know the results of Minnesota's voting regarding same-sex marriage yet???
Not good right now. They needed a majority rather than a plurality, and at this point the bigots are winning with 56%.
http://elections.startribune.com/returns/mrefco.html
skrekk, the "NO" votes were/are leading. As in, "no, we do NOT want to define marriage as between one man and one woman."
In other words, the bigots are NOT winning.
Yup, as far as gay marriage goes this election cycle we are 3 for 3.
If the referendum is defeated in MN, then it is 4 for 4. A rather good election year, after all.
That's great news!
It looks like the Minnesota SoS needs to update their website, as right now it still shows the amendment winning 56-43.
http://elections.startribune.com/returns/mrefco.html
I bet the coalition of homophobes are trying to figure out how this happened. In their world their argument against Homosexualism was fool proof. Well when you start out as fools, fool proof means nothing. This also displays what we have known all along, the homophobes are becoming the minority in this country with each passing year.
Hopefully these will be the first of many victories for the LGBT community, there is no reason, in America, in 2012, why they should be treated differently just because of who they love.
Wouldn't it be nice if everyone would just focus on their own lives and let other people live theirs?
Republicans are terrified of male florists.
Not the ones who wear magic underwear............unless they put them on backwards.
Some Christians think dancing and playing cards is a sin too. We should pass laws against anything that some Christian thinks is a sin, like using electricity for instance.
It wouldn't have mattered if they voted against it. Some judge or governer would have instated it despite the voter's wishes like they've done in every other state with gay marriage. So much for votes mattering. They only matter when you choose what the liberals want you to choose.
That's why we have a constitution and a bill of rights - to prevent the tyranny of the majority over a minority.
That you think other people's civil rights should be put to a popular vote means that you're either a Republican or a member of the confederacy.
But they didn't vote against it, which is kind of the whole friggin' point.
Also: when voters voted against racial integration, "some judge" stepped in and said segregation was unconstitutional. Because that's how our whole rights thing works.
You might want to learn some more about what being an American means.
@ufwcs
Actually dipshyt the Maryland legislature already passed it in BOTH houses and the Governor had signed it into law. But the Consevative,bible-thumping Right wanted to make that all certified by a voter referendum,so it's YOUR side that wanted a second bite at the apple.
Bet your tune on working the system until you get the results you want changes now. Or not. You hypocrites are (in)famous for your projection.
But hey little trooper,look at the bright side...we also legalized through another voter referendum,table games for our casinos here in Maryland last night.
So poker and blackjack.
Just think ufwcs,you can now come to our great state and lose your pants and your virginity and get gay married all in one fell swoop. I bet the thought of that sends a tingle up your leg that would make Chris Matthews jealous.
as it turns out, votes only matter when they fall on the side of constitutionality. Huh imagine that!
dupe
The problem with your argument is that THEY DIDN'T VOTE AGAINST IT. Equality wins. Poor you.
Hey GOP, the last century is calling. They want their old, angry white men back.
UHHH, can we get something more about the gay marriage thing....
As much as this is about gay marriage, it is also about civil rights. As long as the majority believes it can deny equal rights to a minority, it will, and it will use any means necessary to do so. This is about the exercise of power and oppression, and it must be stopped in accordance with our constitution. Nothing more and nothing less.
Those numbers explain why the GOP lost big time tonight. Who would want to vote for a dumb bigot?
As long as it's wrong to God; it's wrong to me.
Looks like your god wanted the Republicans to lose tonight and for marriage equality to win.
Which is fine. But the moment you extend that to "And whatever is wrong to me must be illegal for everyone" you have gone too far.
That's all fine,well and good Bobby and I would fight for your right to live by that credo.
But that does not give you or anyone else the right to project YOUR beliefs into THEIR lives.
Keep your religion out of our politics and we'll keep our politics out of your religion.
How would you know if it's wrong to God? Some preacher has to tell you so you don't really know. God is not a hateful, vengeful entity trying to prevent his own creations from living life and being happy.
There are only sick humans that interpret the bible in ways that they believe makes them superior to everyone else. LOL!
Don't you know that they talk to God directly. It's one of the perks of being a Christian. Of being one of Gods chosen.
Another is ignorance. It must be. So many Christians seem to be ignorant.
Oh and then there is hate, fear and bigotry. You get those also.
And it says so right there in their Bible. Just ask them. They will be more then happy to show you just where it does.
Do you eat seafood? And do you wear fabrics that are mixed? Well, if so, big fail for you.
And keep posting stuff like that... It just fuels the younger generation to vote against ridiculous organized religion!
My Bible says 'thou shalt not lie with a man as with a woman it is a detestable thing'. (It was printed in 1961, in the newer editions 'detestable' was changed to the much stronger 'abomination'.)
However, in the list of people you can't 'lie down with' in Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers, not once does the Bible say anything about two girls lying down together. Therefore, God must have a double standard.
(Unless, of course, you understand that the Bible was put together by the Nicene Coucils--aka a group of old men--starting in 329 CE and they left out the stuff that they didn't think people wanted to hear. Hence the 'Forbidden Books' of the Bible tucked away in the Vatican archives.)
Oh, and while it says you can't 'uncover the nakedness' of your children, nowhere in the Bible does it say that you can't uncover the nakedness of other peoples' children. Therefore, per the Bible, those pedophile priests are just following God's law and Biblical teaching. Would you therefore believe that they should be exempt from prosecution?
(By the way--back in the biblical days, girls were engaged as young as nine, and married as early as twelve-fourteen, startng with bearing children soon thereafter. Biblical scholars postulate that Mary herself may have been as young as twelve when God got her pregnant with Jesus.)
You are misguided, and misinformed in your warped view of Scripture.
Ah, the "scripture". Good thing it has no bearing on our secular government and laws.
Please go back to tending to your own soul, and leave your (wrong) opinions to yourself rather than dictating who can marry who.
Cool so you have a direct line to the giant flying spagetti monster ??.... Can you ask him for next weeks powerball for me ....
That's cool Bobby, to each his own. And thankfully, you still have absolutely, postively, NO mandate to marry a gay person.
Or, they were just turned on by the idea of two women sleeping together.
If misguided and misinformed, then please inform and guide me. As a pastor it is your sworn duty not to judge, but to enlighten and teach, is it not? If your arguments are convincing, you might convert a pagan back to the fold...
Pastor,
When it comes to legal issues, your scripture has about as much worth as toilet paper. Try to stay on topic. This is about LAW.
Sarah:
Sorry, I was the one who derailed it into scripture in response to Bobby's post. My bad! Rebuke accepted!
Amanda,
I'm so disappointed in you. ;) It's still fun to remind them of that though.
Like practically every other red-blooded human male on the planet, which leads back to 'if we put this in the Bible no one's going to want to read it so we'll leave it out'. Which is why you don't see the Church protesting those scantily-clad Victoria's Secret models hugging each other and blowing kisses to each other. Or protests at movies that feature two girls making out, like 'Black Swan' where Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis kissed--and Natalie Portman masturbated.
However, if you step over the line and try to turn your religious beliefs into law, not fine anymore.
There's no God when counting election results! Minnesota voted down the amendment to define marriage between "one man & one woman". They also voted down the voter ID requirement. The conservative trash was flushed down the commode in Minnesota and all around the country voters have demonstrated that fairness and equality are much more important than those tired, overused bible verses. God Bless America!
God will NOT bless America. Your new slogan should say God -Less America.
pastor, your god must be very very weak if he needs civil laws to force people to obey his rules. How sad.
MY god doesn't need such help, i'm sorry yours does. :)
Pastor, buy a one way ticket to Afghanistan. You are no longer welcome here.
pastor,
Considering slavery, the Civil War, slaughter the American Indians, etc., I think we'll be just fine without your god's blessing.
Pastor -- sorry, YOUR god is not necessarily everyone else's god ... that's why the U.S is not a theocracy!
Hate is really losing big time this election cycle.
I know! I've never had the news give me so many reasons to smile in one day.
Slowly but surely, ignorance and it's resultant fear and hate is being defeated.
What I find interesting is the results of the Maine referendum. Several years ago, Maine's state legislature legalized same sex marriage. Then a voter referendum repealed that law. Now the voters of the state have reversed themselves and voted for just such a law.
I think this shows that voters attitudes on this issue are changing.
I'll leave it proponents from either side to decide if attitudes are shifting in the right direction.
attitudes are definitely changing. You can see that in every poll over time. The younger generation has figured out that being gay isn't a crime/sickness, and the older homophobic bigots are dying off.
Since allowing gay marriage is an increase in rights in freedom-loving america, and doesn't hurt anyone (well, except for control freaks who think that THEY should run YOUR private life), this is a good thing.
In Maine the pro-equality folks really had their act together this time and were better able to counter the venomous ads from NOM and other hate groups.
The real loser last night was Frank Schubert, who was the media consultant for all the anti-equality campaigns.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelangelo-signorile/frank-schubert-anti-gay-marriage-amendment_b_1980260.html
"Maryland" did not vote for Gay marriage..... The Beltway crowd in the suburbs of DC, and Baltimore City Did. Marylanders are held hostage to 4 counties and the City of Baltimore. The same counties that always deliver Maryland to the democratic candidate. This is a VERY sad day for the state, and the Nation.
Thanks for identifying where the patriotic people live in maryland, the ones who support equal rights for all.
Why do you hate american values like freedom?
I'm sure the death of predudice and hate IS a sad day for bigots. Cry me a river. :)
As a resident of Baltimore City who voted FOR gay marriage, I am a very proud Marylander.
How did all those prayers work out for you, pastor?
fauxpastor, counties don't vote - people do. And it seems the majority of the people of Maryland disagree with you.
Pastor...funny how it is that you cling to the majority (no matter how it adds up) when the results are in your favor, but it's always "the big city's fault" when it doesn't.
Do us all a favor and keep your hypocrisy and hateful bullsh*t in your church.
@ pastor65
t('-'t)
It is still a majority of the state, no matter how you look at it. Interesting how the right yells "let the people vote", until the vote goes the wrong way. But, it is a typical religious viewpoint that people really can't be trusted to make their own decisions, they must be told how to vote by their ministers, priests, etc...
A pastor who hates. Imagine that. THAT's why I left the church 20 years ago. Bigot.
Sounds like we need a lot more cheese to go with the massive quantities of whine.
Stick a fork in ya, your ilk are done.
So those in The Beltway and Baltimore are not Marylanders? What are they then Martians?
Yeah, what a shame that the voters who disagree with you aren't disenfranchised. That is what would be fair.
Lavrn...you left the church because you CHOSE to! Quit blaming others (oh that's right, you must be an Obama supporter). You left the Church because you didn't want to submit your life to God, and allow him to guide you. No wonder you are confused. As for homosexual marriage, no matter who votes for it, it will never be natural. It will always be perverted and deviant. Please find words that you actually understand, as you have no idea what a bigot, or hate really is......look at yourself.
Pastor, way too many words. Here let me simplify.
Marriage is unnatural.
Prove me wrong.
Exists in 1500+ species in nature without human interference, satisfying the definition of "natural".
Hence, homosexuality = natural.
Please try again never.
The state I live in - Maryland - and the state where I love to vacation - Maine - have made me so proud. As President Obama's campaign has said - Forward!
Gaither...seems we have something in common. I live in Rockville (King Farm)...also have a vacation house in Maine as I'm originally from there!!
I too am thrilled with all of this!
Cannoli (one of my favorite desserts by the way), I used to live in Rockville but am now in Gburg as my name suggests. Besides Maryland and Maine my other favorite state is New Jersey, which is my home state. I am confident that marriage equality is coming there soon too.