Passions persist on gay marriage
The group that helped repeal Maine's law begins a tour here, and the 'enemy' rallies too.
By Susan M. Cover scover@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer
AUGUSTA - The group that donated nearly $2 million to help repeal same-sex marriage in Maine last year returned Wednesday to start its "Summer for Marriage" tour of states where the issue remains contentious.
Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage, makes a point during a rally for opponents of same-sex marriage Wednesday in Augusta.
Photos by Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press
A supporter helps the National Organization for Marriage kick off its “One Man, One Woman” bus tour. Members plan to visit 17 states where gay marriage is still an issue.
Additional Photos Below
The National Organization for Marriage held a 50-minute rally in Augusta's Capitol Park, where speakers urged supporters to be aware of court cases and legislative action in other states, and to stay active in Maine.
"We must understand that the enemy will never accept defeat in their effort to destroy the family as God designed," said Charla Bansley, Maine state director of Concerned Women for America. "Let's be spiritually prepared for the long haul, but realize the battle belongs to the Lord."
The National Organization for Marriage will take its bus tour to 17 states, including New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, before ending it Aug. 15 in Washington, D.C.
The organization's executive director, Brian Brown, said he was proud to have been a key part of the Question 1 campaign last fall, when 53 percent of voters in a statewide referendum repealed the same-sex marriage law that the Legislature and the governor had approved.
Even though voters weighed in, he said, there will be more attempts by gay-marriage supporters to bring it forward.
"There are still attempts throughout our country to say, 'Your vote doesn't matter,' " he said. "'Your civil right to stand up for something as simple as the definition of marriage doesn't count.' "
The rally, which drew about 100 people on a sweltering day, prompted supporters of same-sex marriage to organize their own event at the State House.
EqualityMaine and other groups held a news conference in the Hall of Flags to talk about why they will continue to fight for same-sex marriage.
Gov. John Baldacci, who signed the marriage bill into law in May 2009, made a surprise appearance at the news conference, prompting the crowd to cheer when he rounded the corner from his office.
"I know we came up a little bit short in the last election, but I think you really did change a lot of minds and hearts," he said.
In the days leading up to the bill's signing, there was doubt about whether Baldacci would support the law.
He previously had supported civil unions instead of marriage rights.
On Wednesday, it was clear that he has become a strong proponent of same-sex marriage.
"It was one of the most passionate, committed causes that I've been a part of, and proud to be a part of," he said. "I know what the future looks like, and I know that we're going to have an opportunity to make sure that everybody will be able to enjoy that equally and without discrimination."
Although gay-marriage supporters in Maine say they don't have a time line to bring the issue back before the Legislature, it continues to be a hot topic in California and Massachusetts.
Californians are waiting for a ruling by a federal judge on Proposition 8, a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage that is being challenged as unconstitutional. Regardless of how the judge rules, the case is expected to end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Last week in Massachusetts, a federal judge ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited same-sex couples who are legally wed in their respective states from qualifying for the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples.
For gay and lesbian couples in Maine, November's defeat continues to be painful.
Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, said she didn't know what to say to her 7-year-old son when he asked what had happened on Election Day.
"I couldn't find the words to answer his question, because I knew the answer was going to hurt," she said. "When I finally shook my head and said, 'I'm sorry sweetheart, we lost the campaign,' he couldn't comprehend it."
She accused the National Organization for Marriage of using "fear mongering" to win the election.
"That's exactly why they are back in Maine today," she said. "To scare Mainers into thinking their families are under attack by families like mine."
Bob Emrich, who helped lead the repeal effort in Maine, told the crowd in Capitol Park that voters clearly said they didn't want to change the definition of marriage.
"I'm asking you to continue to stand strong," he said. "Be ready. Be watchful. We cannot let legislators, governors or activist judges and radical politicians destroy this age-old institution."
MaineToday Media State House Reporter Susan Cover can be contacted at 620-7015 or at: scover@centralmaine.com
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Additional Photos
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Madelyn Fijalek of Farmington makes her feelings known during the rally against gay marriage. Voters repealed the state’s gay-marriage law last fall, 53-47 percent. |
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Carla Hopkins, right, accompanied by her son, Eli Hopkins, 5, and her partner, Virginia Eleftheriou, all of Mount Vernon, Maine, speaks in favor of same-sex marriage during a news conference at the State House. Gov. John Baldacci also spoke, telling the crowd that he was “proud to be a part” of the campaign for gay marriage. |
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Bev Uhlenhake of Bangor speaks in favor of gay marriage at the State House. Supporters in Maine say they don’t have a time line to bring the issue back before the Legislature. |
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49 COMMENTS
heyjoe said...
Make it all go away....PLEASE!!!!
July 15, 2010 at 12:52 AM Report abuse
mutt said...
Tell little Johnny the truth. The effort to normalize and redefine the relationship mommy has with your other mommy wasn't successful. Stick to civil unions and get the rights that u reportedly want then disappear to the 10% of the population u represent and leave the reset of us alone.
July 15, 2010 at 4:25 AM Report abuse
tonella said...
Hide in their closet is best.
July 15, 2010 at 6:09 AM Report abuse
Biddy said...
The "effort to normalize" the relationship or any relationship wasn't the point of the SSM issue. It was and is about the denial of a governmental license to human beings based on their sexual orientation. It was about equality. Do you really think that any gay couple feels less "normal" because of the vote then they did before? That's really quite an illusion or should I say delusion.
July 15, 2010 at 6:11 AM Report abuse
Jack24 said...
Maine people have loudly and by a large margin voted against gay marriage. I'm glad this organization is still on the offensive because the angry gay millitants will not rest until they destroy marriage.
July 15, 2010 at 7:34 AM Report abuse
jake007 said...
thanks mizz cover and PPH from the never ending dose of this BS. heyjoe has it right on.
July 15, 2010 at 8:08 AM Report abuse
Truthseeker said...
"is between a man and a women" I wonder if the was waffling between "woman" and women" before she penned the sign which apparently my be the actual word of the great sky muffin.
July 15, 2010 at 8:39 AM Report abuse
Jon said...
Of course passions are still high. You have MOM, a out-of-state hate group that will not follow Maine law pouring millions of dollars into Bob Emrich's and Bishop Malone's campaign to further injure his neighbors by denying them their basic fundamental civil rights. And you have thousands of Mainers and their children denied the 1300 special rights granted only to heterosexuals livng as second class citizens. How can you destroy "marriage" by allowing more people to participate in it. Makes absolutely no sense. Marriage is destroyed by divorce and I don't see MOM out their fighting to end divorce.
July 15, 2010 at 8:58 AM Report abuse
Scrib said...
Yesterday at the rally for traditional marriage, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse made the observation that if same sex marriage proponents prevail, we will end up with marriage, in the public sense, being nothing more than a registry of friendships. Anyone who tells you that this will end with 2 homosexuals being placed on a par with one man and one woman who are truly married, is lying. Go to BeyondMarriage.org to see what the movers and shakers of the sexual libertine movement have in mind for us. Yesterday on the 6 pm news Betsy Smith, homosexual rights activist, made repeated statements of how it won't be easy for them, because they need to- "change our culture." So if you think you're being nice, forward thinking and tolerant by supporting these people in their effort to redefine marriage- think again. You're actually supporting a movement that if successful will tear the fabric of society as it's never been torn before.
July 15, 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse
AXeL said...
A "governmental license", as Biddy puts it, would be CIVIL UNIONS. Marriage, on the other hand, is a union based upon religion. The question then becomes: If Civil Union satisfies all the requirements of "fairness" and equal protection under the law, why do gays insist upon MARRIAGE? The answer is obvious: They seek to destroy religion as punishment for not celebrating them. When the courts finally force churches to perform SSM in their churches, gays will have won a mighty victory and send churches underground like they were in the days of Sodom.
July 15, 2010 at 9:20 AM Report abuse
jake007 said...
Hey, both Scrib and AXeL,excellent posts. And AXeL,s thoughts on "If Civil Union satisfies all the requirements of "fairness" and equal protection under the law, why do gays insist upon MARRIAGE? Please someone from the SSM answer this.
July 15, 2010 at 9:30 AM Report abuse
hallowellboy said...
Except for the fact these out of state snake handlers are being paid well by hate groups, they'd be home in Arkansas washing their hoods. They are a made up Klan of tax evading "religious" fanatics that tour the country every summer spreading hate and fear among the uneducated. They need to go back to their Appalachians compound and practice safe sex.
July 15, 2010 at 9:54 AM Report abuse
Marlin1894 said...
Maine people spoke loudly last November, in record #'s for an off year election. Get over it SSM lovers, or move to MA or VT with liberals and old Hippies give you their blessing.
July 15, 2010 at 10:11 AM Report abuse
Sue01 said...
In the first place, Maine doesn't have civil unions. And the church only took interest in marriage around the 12 century - so that's another 'falsehood.' Talk about your 'inconvenient truth'! LOL Studies show that you cannot process new and opposing data when you're overly excited and angry. An age-old survival instinct called fight-or-flight kicks in (preparing to either fight the saber-tooth tiger or run for your life), concentrating all bodily for the struggle - and overriding the brain's ability to process and analyze facts (until quieter times prevail). Hence, NOM NEEDS to keep their supporters riled up, using words like ENEMY and SURVIVAL. 'Lest - under quieter circumstances - they might stumble upon A DIFFERENT TRUTH.
July 15, 2010 at 10:16 AM Report abuse
Sue01 said...
should say *all bodily resources*
July 15, 2010 at 10:22 AM Report abuse
AR5 said...
The NOM supporters should not have allowed themselves to be photographed as they look evil and not so bright (nice signs). But, they are gone now. Bye bye
July 15, 2010 at 10:24 AM Report abuse
Mahogany said...
jake007-The reason is that civil unions DO NOT provide equal protections. Furthermore, since "marriage" crossed the line to be federally recognized, it no longer belongs to the church. They don't own it anymore. It belongs to the people. And that includes everyone. Including the gay population. If they wanted to protect "marriage", it should have stayed in the church.
July 15, 2010 at 10:26 AM Report abuse
Mahogany said...
tonella - Why don't you go hide in your closet? You may not like it, but gays are out and equal. Deal with it.
July 15, 2010 at 10:29 AM Report abuse
2SpeakUp said...
Every day I read these comments I am reminded how much hate and anger exists everywhere. Just because people don't do it YOUR way, doesn't mean they're wrong. There's is just ANOTHER way. Any religion or philosophy that allows hate or believes that anyone or anything is separate from God because of their way of life doesn't have anything to do with God. God's love for us all is unconditional, and we aren't EVER separated from him. I'm sure he is far more saddened by the hate and persecution than by any other thing. And really, isn't marriage about love as well? Love can never be, nor ever should be, denied it's expression just because someone doesn't deem it "right". And you, Marlin, mentioning hippies? I think perhaps they should return; their message was love, not hate - I presume you people might enjoy having Hitler return?
July 15, 2010 at 10:29 AM Report abuse
Mahogany said...
AR5 - The sign says it all. These are the people we are dealing with. Ignorant, uneducated, and ugly too.
July 15, 2010 at 10:30 AM Report abuse
jake007 said...
Mahogany thank you for the responce. A question I have that AXeL brought up and I ask it respectfully,lets say a church,any church without picking on said our beliefs will not allow us to do that would that be acceptable and the couple would simply find a church that would. Or would lets say a justice of the peace wedding do just fine. From what I understand many churches would marry gays and many would not. So those that would not should be left to make that decision correct?
July 15, 2010 at 10:57 AM Report abuse
Truthseeker said...
It would be interesting to see how people shake out on this issue in regards to whether they are against it because of their beliefs (in some supernatural power).
July 15, 2010 at 11:59 AM Report abuse
ScottTopsum said...
Here is an interesting fact for you all to consider. In Massachusetts, Iowa, and Conneticut the judges who ruled that prohibiting gay marriage was unconstitutional were Republican appointees. The federal judge who ruled last week that portions of DOMA violate the 14th amendment was a Republican appointed by Nixon. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote the landmark pro-gay decision on the Texas Sodomy law is a Republican appointed by Regan. Kennedy is likely to be the deciding vote when the marriage question reaches the Supreme Court as welll. How is it that all of these conservative Republican judges keep finding that the constitution does not allow discrimination against gay citizens? Maybe because the constitution applies to every American, not just the ones you're comfortable with.
July 15, 2010 at 12:07 PM Report abuse
Mahogany said...
jake007 - Any church that doesn't want to marry a gay couple has the right not to. And it should stay that way. In fact, it was written into the law that was repealed. Any church wishing not to perform a gay marriage was exempt. This is about the legal protections and recognition only.
July 15, 2010 at 12:15 PM Report abuse
MSH said...
SSM people have been identified as "the enemy" by this PPH writer....Teenacidity must be thrilled....and spending longer in the bath room than usual....This issue is court issue and will be decided THERE....not in the court of UNpopular opinion....
July 15, 2010 at 12:25 PM Report abuse
AR5 said...
ScottTopsum, great post. I had no idea. Hopefully, that will help educate the posters that keep making this political and keep referring to liberal activist posts.
July 15, 2010 at 1:18 PM Report abuse
AR5 said...
If one is so passionate about "defending" marriage shouldn't one start with being able to spell marriage? Nice sign. These people could care less about marriage or families.
July 15, 2010 at 1:24 PM Report abuse
Biddy said...
As long as the state defines "Marriage" in it's statutes then "Civil Union" is something else. In order to accomplish what Jake and Axel speak of would require the state to drop "Marriage" from it's statutes and replace that word with "Civil Union". Because in order to accomplish what the SSM movement wants, Civil Unions would apply both to man-woman, and same sex couples. It is about Equality, not religion. It is about ensuring the rights of one person under law are extended to all people governed by the law. As a heterosexual, married, person I wouldn't want my marriage defined as a Civil Union just because we had a civil marriage ceremony. And I wouldn't expect our gay friends to settle for that either. What Jake and Axel want is a definition that allows their unions to be considered superior to same sex unions.
July 15, 2010 at 2:54 PM Report abuse
JohnnieT said...
Victory for Gay Marriage in DC Marriage equality foes were dealt a blow Thursday morning — the DC Court of Appeals ruled against allowing an initiative on the ballot to invalidate same-sex marriages entered into in the District. No worries - every court case delivers another victory. Only a matter of time ...
July 15, 2010 at 3:11 PM Report abuse
Truthseeker said...
Is whitey afraid that the lack of procreation in the existing population will hinder western civilization? That is just a pathetic point which is probably one of the platform issues of RUTH. Legalizing gay marriage isn't going to suddenly produce an onslaught of gay people.
July 15, 2010 at 3:43 PM Report abuse
AR5 said...
JohnnieT said: "No worries - every court case delivers another victory. Only a matter of time ..." ================================== Exactly. And when it is legal, all the folks that are so scared will see that their lives won't be impacted at all.
July 15, 2010 at 4:33 PM Report abuse
hallowellboy said...
There is one way and only one way to make this whole Gay marriage issue go away once and for all. That is to allow all loving and committed couples in Maine, like in Massachusetts, to legally marry and share equally in the benefits marriage provides. Nothing else will do. By the way, straight married couples in Massachusetts didn't notice any erosion of their "traditional" marriages since Gay marriage was adopted by the State. They did however care that their fellow Gay citizens shared in their same liberties and pursuits of happiness. Gotta love them for that!
July 15, 2010 at 5:18 PM Report abuse
jake007 said...
Biddy..you said"What Jake and Axel want is a definition that allows their unions to be considered superior to same sex unions"...not so, I have never said "superior".
July 15, 2010 at 7:05 PM Report abuse
iliketobike said...
Who the hell writes "...between a man and a women"? Go back to third grade and lurn to speel curectly.
July 15, 2010 at 7:37 PM Report abuse
middleone said...
Has NOM released the name of their donors or are they still breaking the law?
July 15, 2010 at 7:39 PM Report abuse
tenacity said...
Picture.........Carla Hopkins, right, accompanied by her son, Eli Hopkins, 5, and her partner, Virginia Eleftheriou...................nice lets put the kids on display and use them for your political purpose. Sick people with no concern for their children just their wants!
July 15, 2010 at 8:28 PM Report abuse
Billybear said...
5th anniversary of Canada's Civil Marriage Act! On July 20, 2005, Canada became the fourth country in the world and the first country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide with the enactment of the Civil Marriage Act. Court decisions, starting in 2003, each already legalized same-sex marriage in eight out of ten provinces and one of three territories, whose residents comprised about 90% of Canada's population. Before passage of the Act, more than 3,000 same-sex couples had already married in these areas. Most legal benefits commonly associated with marriage had been extended to cohabiting same-sex couples since 1999. And today Argentina extended marriage to same sex couples. It's a new world, folks. Who cares what Maine does or who votes against marriage equality? The federal courts will rule in favor of marriage equality. They have already ruled that parts of DOMA are unconstitutional in MA. You don't get to vote on the civil rights of others.
July 15, 2010 at 8:55 PM Report abuse
DeathCultt said...
Oh ya and Homosexual men who want 2 raise kids with their sick partner(HEATH). The stats 4 motherless kids are equally horrendous!!
July 15, 2010 at 9:06 PM Report abuse
2SpeakUp said...
DeathCultt - Your choice of a name for yourself bespeaks the obvious evil nature of your soul. Did it ever occur to you that the children of same-sex relationships love their parents, and that by you and people like you persecuting their parents, open the children you purport to care so much about to shame? It's not all about what YOU want; get it?
July 15, 2010 at 9:24 PM Report abuse
Art said...
A gay dude can legally marry a lesbian...wouldn't that qualify as a "gay marriage?" Just sayin'... TGIF!
July 16, 2010 at 7:34 AM Report abuse
brightOne said...
Giving the most vulnerable among us the same rights most of us enjoy strengthens all of our rights. Go ahead and quote me on that.
July 16, 2010 at 8:16 AM Report abuse
brightOne said...
'A gay dude can legally marry a lesbian...wouldn't that qualify as a "gay marriage?"" - - - - - - - - - - - - Very good pint. It shows that the labels the religious right puts on people is ambiguous and meaningless.
July 16, 2010 at 8:34 AM Report abuse
frontjon said...
Hey lady... marriage has nothing to do with procreation. If you think otherwise, it's time to force divorce upon all married couples who had no children voluntarily or involuntarily. Procreation is a choice, not a mandate.
July 16, 2010 at 9:08 AM Report abuse
frontjon said...
It's all just a matter of time... history and trend in our federal government are solidly on the side for ending discrimination. This will happen. There's no evidence to the contrary.
July 16, 2010 at 9:16 AM Report abuse
1bright1 said...
Scrib said... "Yesterday at the rally for traditional marriage, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse made the observation that if same sex marriage proponents prevail, we will end up with marriage, in the public sense, being nothing more than a registry of friendships." OK then please educate us on what more a marriage is?
July 16, 2010 at 9:45 AM Report abuse
1bright1 said...
Anyone else think Brian Brown looked like Henry Rollins' character on Sons of Anarchy. The character was a Neo-Nazi, so the similarities run deeper than the skin.
July 16, 2010 at 9:48 AM Report abuse
AR5 said...
Once again, if you can't even spell "marriage" or phrase "man and woman" correctly, doesn't that say something? These people could care less about marriage, children or equality.
July 16, 2010 at 10:35 AM Report abuse
DeathCultt said...
Upon HOMOSEXUAL Marriage comes the inevitable after birth of dysfunctional thinking of bringing and innocent child in2 such and ill minded union.Whether it B 2 female HOMOSEXUALS or Male HOMOSEXUALS here R some stats of damage that can B caused 2 a child raised outside of Male female parents. 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census) – 5 times the average. 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average. 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Center for Disease Control) 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes --14 times the average. (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26) There R more but they R Horrific these stats are 4 both mother and fatherless children. A Mother Mother or Father Father scenirio do nothing but confuse the natural order of what a child should B exposed 2 Men can never B a mother, women can never B a Dad
July 16, 2010 at 12:51 PM Report abuse
HesterPrynne said...
DeathCultt said... although the stats you quote are totally bogus, if we believed them, then children raised by TWO fathers would be way better off.
July 17, 2010 at 12:29 PM Report abuse