Gay marriage backers return to drawing board

Is anyone else sick of hearing the media tell everyone this was a crushing defeat for the LGBT community? Who in the LGBT community is at all surprised by this outcome?

McMike wrote:

Is anyone else sick of hearing the media tell everyone this was a crushing defeat for the LGBT community? Who in the LGBT community is at all surprised by this outcome?

NO ONE really.

Just like the one forum.......Defeat a Harsh Blow......yea right.

When will folks learn that this isn't about children......IT'S ABOUT 2 CONSENTING ADULTS.

And we fight on:)

i gotta say i thought we would win this one but i don't see it as a crushing defeat but something to make us push harder and faster next time:)

With victories in Washington and Kalamazoo, MI (with almost a 2:1 vote in favor of protections based on sexual orientation), I think it was not even close to a crushing defeat.

We learned that the haters don't care if it's marriage or civil unions. They lied on both coasts of the country.(In ME they said anything but marriage... in WA, they said nothing at all, not even CUs.) They've exposed themselves as the hypocrits they are, which hopefully can be included in some lawsuit somewhere.

And you're right. I don't think anyone was surprised by the final outcome as much as they are surprised by the slim margine by which Question 1 passed.

It's only a matter of time before our allies stand up and cast away the religious wingnuts or the courts finally stand up and do what's right.

Oh, and that's not to mention the fact that Question 1 was just a veto of the law. It didn't add an amendment to Maine's Constitution. It is my understanding that if the legislature so desires, they can pass the law again with appropriate margins and the law cannot be overturned by a popular vote as it was Tuesday night.

The only way it could happen again is if the haters and religious wingnuts decided to put a referendum on the ballot that would alter the constitution.

aRodeojock wrote:

Oh, and that's not to mention the fact that Question 1 was just a veto of the law. It didn't add an amendment to Maine's Constitution. It is my understanding that if the legislature so desires, they can pass the law again with appropriate margins and the law cannot be overturned by a popular vote as it was Tuesday night.
The only way it could happen again is if the haters and religious wingnuts decided to put a referendum on the ballot that would alter the constitution.

Actually the legislature and the voters can continue to repeat this process endlessly. The legislature can pass another law, the gov can sign it, and if the voters can get enough signatures, they can have another "veto vote".

That's what happened with domestic partnerships- it took the legislature passing it twice before the "voter veto" failed.

But if there's federal marriage equality then of course children will be taught about same sex marriages to the same extent as they are taught about str8 ones. It's only natural that it would be so.

At some point this fear mongering tactic and others like it will have to be addressed forthrightly, and not just with inspiring portraits of upper middle class, white, same sex couples in TV ads while trying to deny away the obvious implications of equality.

Or have I misunderstood something?

The Yes on 1 side were correct, of course - it is about the children. They just left out a portion of the children - those that are gay. Their message of hate comes through loud and clear to these poor kids. We've all heard it, we all know we are hated. Now they have votes to prove it. Hey, gay kids, may as well kill yourself now. There is no help for you in your schools, in your churches, or in your life. Want some heroin to relieve the pain? Don't forget to kiss your blessed parents before you kill yourself. And let them know that their vote helped you decide on the direction of your life.

Duped since birth wrote:

The Yes on 1 side were correct, of course - it is about the children. They just left out a portion of the children - those that are gay. Their message of hate comes through loud and clear to these poor kids. We've all heard it, we all know we are hated. Now they have votes to prove it. Hey, gay kids, may as well kill yourself now. There is no help for you in your schools, in your churches, or in your life. Want some heroin to relieve the pain? Don't forget to kiss your blessed parents before you kill yourself. And let them know that their vote helped you decide on the direction of your life.

:(

I expected this. I was ready for it. I was also crushed by it (hurt). Being from MA, I spent quite a bit of time in the phone banks and saw a huge level of support from my calls.

Still, the reason it was emotional is that it was the thirty-first slap in the face, reminding me that we are still second-class citizens.

My heart goes out to many of my friends in Maine. I shed tears for you, but encourage you that this is not the end of it. History is on our side.

Let us remember our goals (in no particular order minus 4 and 5):

1) DADT
2) ENDA
3) DOMA
4) States
4) Big, massive, crazy, national gay pride parade
5) Begin living our lives as citizens of equal status.

I give it 10 years before 1 through 5 are all realized.

Travis A wrote:

i gotta say i thought we would win this one but i don't see it as a crushing defeat but something to make us push harder and faster next time:)

Why do you need to push harder, why not simply accept the fact that the people of this country don't want it. Why do you have to go to liberal courts, try to find legal loop-holes, shove it down americas throat. Just accept the fact that the american people deem this unacceptable. It can be only ego for a group of people to think they know so much more then the rest of the country that it's ok to stoop to these measures because afterall, you know best.

Floodgates wrote:

I expected this. I was ready for it. I was also crushed by it (hurt). Being from MA, I spent quite a bit of time in the phone banks and saw a huge level of support from my calls.
Still, the reason it was emotional is that it was the thirty-first slap in the face, reminding me that we are still second-class citizens.
My heart goes out to many of my friends in Maine. I shed tears for you, but encourage you that this is not the end of it. History is on our side.
Let us remember our goals (in no particular order minus 4 and 5):
1) DADT
2) ENDA
3) DOMA
4) States
4) Big, massive, crazy, national gay pride parade
5) Begin living our lives as citizens of equal status.
I give it 10 years before 1 through 5 are all realized.

You are probably going to be right......5-10 years and Marriage Equality will happen.

We fight on:)

Duped since birth wrote:

The Yes on 1 side were correct, of course - it is about the children. They just left out a portion of the children - those that are gay. Their message of hate comes through loud and clear to these poor kids. We've all heard it, we all know we are hated. Now they have votes to prove it. Hey, gay kids, may as well kill yourself now. There is no help for you in your schools, in your churches, or in your life. Want some heroin to relieve the pain? Don't forget to kiss your blessed parents before you kill yourself. And let them know that their vote helped you decide on the direction of your life.

I disagree with the gay lifestyle, completely, and I hate nobody.

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
I disagree with the gay lifestyle, completely, and I hate nobody.

Let me get this straight.......you like Gay and Lesbian people......but you disagree with their individual "LIFESTYLES", why?

My sexual orientation is something I can understand you not liking.....but my "LIFESTYLE".......th at doesn't make any sense because you don't know my "LIFESTYLE".

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
Why do you need to push harder, why not simply accept the fact that the people of this country don't want it. Why do you have to go to liberal courts, try to find legal loop-holes, shove it down americas throat. Just accept the fact that the american people deem this unacceptable. It can be only ego for a group of people to think they know so much more then the rest of the country that it's ok to stoop to these measures because afterall, you know best.

The same could've been said about interracial marriage, equal rights for women and equal rights for blacks. The majority was steadfast against it but, in America, all men are suppose to be equal.

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
Why do you need to push harder, why not simply accept the fact that the people of this country don't want it....

The support for marriage equality in the US has grown considerably over the years, as shown by polling.

Those most opposed to marriage equality tend to be older. They will die sooner and be replaced by younger and less sexually disturbed voters than you homophobes. The electorate as a whole is also becoming less talibangelical.

The rest of the developed, Western world is more rapidly moving to marriage equality.

All these factors bode well for marriage equality in the long run.

BTW, your premises and your language mark you as deeply unhinged. But don't bother seeking help, your kind will be marginalized and then dying off before too long, so you're moot.

Praiz!

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
I disagree with the gay lifestyle, completely, and I hate nobody.

Spoken like a true homophobe. At least you're honest.

RnL_4EVR_MARRIED wrote:

<quoted text>
Let me get this straight.......you like Gay and Lesbian people......but you disagree with their individual "LIFESTYLES", why?
My sexual orientation is something I can understand you not liking.....but my "LIFESTYLE".......th at doesn't make any sense because you don't know my "LIFESTYLE".

I didn't say I liked gay and lesbian people, I said I don't hate them, and if you want to substitute "behavior" for "lifestyle" I'm fine with that. It is possible to diagree with someone without hating them.

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
I didn't say I liked gay and lesbian people, I said I don't hate them, and if you want to substitute "behavior" for "lifestyle" I'm fine with that. It is possible to diagree with someone without hating them.

but it is not possible to deny someone there rights and say you don't hate them..you can not like "the lifestyle" all you wont but once you vote to take my rights it moves to you hating me..

Get Real wrote:

<quoted text>
I didn't say I liked gay and lesbian people, I said I don't hate them, and if you want to substitute "behavior" for "lifestyle" I'm fine with that. It is possible to diagree with someone without hating them.

I'm not sure what behavior has to do with it either.

You can disagree with me all you want....you just should be allowed to vote on my right to choose who I want to marry......or that's right.......I did have the right to marry the person of my choosing.....and others should too.