Protest Passage of Question One in Maine: Rally Today 6 PM at Park St. Station, Boston

[Ian David]

Protest Passage of Question One in Maine: Rally Today 6 PM at Park St. Station
by: tudor586
Wed Nov 04, 2009 at 06:57:16 AM EST

(Just awful news. Something to do about it. - promoted by Charley on the MTA)

Maine: The Way Life Should Be? Boston Rally Protests
Passage of Question 1 in Maine.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality activists and supporters are gathering Wednesday, November 4th at 6pm near the Park Street Station on the Boston Common to speak out in support of marriage equality and the broader push for full LGBT equality. The rally will protest the results of the Maine vote on Tuesday and is sponsored by Join the Impact MA.

On November 3rd, Maine came down on the wrong side of history by overturning the new law recognizing marriages between same sex couples. Despite heroic efforts by the No on 1 campaign, the discriminatory ballot initiative passed due to a deceptive media campaign funded by out-of-state organizations-indeed many of the same forces of bigotry and intolerance that eliminated marriage equality in California with Proposition 8 exactly one year ago. Yet the grassroots mobilization inside Maine and from around New England to get out the vote in the final months is a model for the kind of movement necessary to win full equality, beyond the effort to defeat a single discriminatory ballot initiative.

Challenges and obstacles to full equality for all Americans remain. Federal laws like the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) policy in the military treat LGBT Americans as second-class citizens. Without federal repeal of DOMA and DADT and passage of a gender identity inclusive employment non-discrimination law, too many Americans are left behind.

Six years after the victory of marriage equality in Massachusetts, same-sex married couples still do not have access to the more than 1,049 federal benefits married heterosexuals enjoy. Hard-won victories like marriage equality in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, and New Hampshire leave unrealized the broader vision of full equality in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states.

As Don Gorton, a board member of Join the Impact MA said, "The results of Question 1 are a temporary setback on the path toward full and equal protection in all matters of civil law. Our struggle continues to end discrimination against LGBT people in Maine, California and the states in between. Simply put, civil rights delayed are civil rights denied." Gorton urged LGBT people and straight allies to seize the moment to join the grassroots campaign for full equality in all 50 states in all matters governed by civil law.

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For more information on this event and various opportunities to personally make a difference, please visit http://www.jointheimpactma.com or email [email protected]

More:
http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/17554/protest-passage-of-question-one-in-maine-rally-today-6-pm-at-park-st-station

[MaineDem]

1. Thank you

Many of us are very upset by this vote. Thanks to our brothers and sisters in Boston for organizing this event.

[luckyleftyme2]

2. but

There is far more of us that are pleased with it!
no way is marriage acceptable between man and man; nor woman and woman!
but the majority would vote for a civil union that would grant all of the legal privileges to same sex unions.
since the beginning of time man and woman have been joined in marriage-and may that go on forever!
we live in a democracy,the majority rule! when we don't we no longer have a democracy !
we saw that from 2000-2008!

[MaineDem]

3. Most of those who are pleased are not posting at this website

Tolerance is a virtue.

Which is why we put up with crap here.

[luckyleftyme2]

4. thank you

now you know how we orginals feel about you!
we tolerate you -but don't let you few over run us or the party!
this is the most pathetic forum of all the states!-the least posts-and the dullest!
thanks for your input!
what input?

[RBInMaine]

5. I voted NO ON ONE, but Lucky does have a point here. Please "listen":

Again, I SUPPORT MARRIGE EQUALITY. But, the electorates are just not ready for it yet as has been proven time and time again now. The needed age, cultural, and religious demographic dynamics are just not there yet to win this in statewide votes. HOWEVER, we CAN win on "civil union" or "domestic partnership" which is a more secular construct and would afford same-sex couples virtually all the same rights as "married" couples. The Boston protest is understandable but will do little for the cause. The voters spoke, and much as I am disappointed, we have to read the writing on the wall and respect current political reality on this issue. NOW, in Washington, close as it was, "domestic partnership" DID win. THAT is what is possible these days. It will be awhile for the demographic shifts to occur which will allow "marriage" to win in popular votes. Again, this is simply realiy. We must acknowledge it.
Remember, politics is the art of the possible at a given point in time. It is the art of compromise, even if the compromise stings a bit. Is it better to make an advance with compromise, or to hold out for what is just not possible? I say make an advance and enjoy the rewards of at least that much. The world will never change overnight. "Civil Union" or "Domestic Partnership" is the way to go, as I want to see these folks get an expanded set of rights sooner than later and to have their relationships achieve some legal recognition. That would be a good thing until full marriage equality becomes possible. (The other approach is to work through the courts and allow them to determine what should constitute legal marriage in a more secular context as in Iowa and Massachusetts.)