Bill Will Move To Governor’s
Desk
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The long road of Maine’s gay marriage bill has come close to an end. The state’s residents have had a truly democratic debate. After over three thousand voters attended a public forum, the gay marriage bill was passed in the senate last week, and quickly moved to the house. The bill moves to the Senate to reconcile both bills then to Governor John Baldacci’s desk. The governor, although publicly opposed to same-sex marriage, has been said to be keeping an open mind. Should the Governor sign it, opponents of the bill threaten to add a referendum to the November election.
Amid a very emotional discussion in the House today, tears were shed, and lawmakers shared personal stories and those of their constituents. Some of their comments:
“Love does not destroy. Only hate does.”
Russell: “I disagree with the notion that I should vote on the basis of religious doctrine. I disagree that separate is equal. Our families are not in trouble because of quote ‘the gays’. If this bill passes I have no idea how I am going to afford the sheer number of wedding gifts I will have to buy. So I’m letting everyone here know today that my wedding gift is my vote today.”
Eves: “Love should not be discriminated against. Marriage equality is the civil rights issue of our time”
Berry: “My five year old son said today, “I hope you win.” I hope my son, whomever he chooses to marry, does not grow up under injustices.”
Thibodeau: “You have to ask yourself why? With all the issues facing us today, why is this the one thing that we need to address in the state of Maine? Why now? We heard today that same sex marriage is the moral equivalent of interracial marriage, which kind of shocked me. For me, it is also a sacred union. God is in the mix. Let’s be honest about this. It really isn’t about civil rights. Its about a social agenda that tears at the very fabric of our lives. God was the originator of diversity because God invented one man and one woman.”
“This country has overcome slavery. We gave women the right to vote. Society progresses. They love this country as much as you and I.”
Hill: “Gay people are human beings, most of them born of traditional marriages, most of them in Maine, here. So we have to realize that when we discriminate against them, we hurt their parents, their uncles, and their children.”
Hinck: Quoting Jesse Ventura: “Love is larger than government.”
Eaton: “This is about civil rights. I am moved by suffering. I am moved my inequality. I’m glad I have the honor to step up and speak up for my fellow brothers and sisters.”
Butterfield: “I couldn’t agree more than with those people who say this is about family. It wouldn’t have mattered to me if I had two moms it wouldn’t matter to me if I had two dads as long as they loved me.” “History’s villains are those who stood in the way of civil rights.”
Chase: “This bill is not a religious matter. This bill is a direct hit on marriage. The family unit allows natural procreation. Those against the gay marriage bill just want to preserve marriage as we have lived it. It is for my children that I will stand today and vote to defend traditional marriage.”
Martin: “This is an issue of civil rights. The younger generation get it. If two people love each other and we want to promote monogamous healthy relationships why do we want to create laws that get in the way. Nine years ago my partner and I made the decision, we could have gone elsewhere to get married but we knew it wouldn’t have meant anything when we came back here. Next year we’ll be celebrating our tenth anniversary. I’m hoping that next year we’ll be able to make it legal.
Boland: “I asked a friend, “What if we could just find another word?” He said, “You could find another word but another word would mean you were putting gay people in another different, lower category.”” “It’s time to have some humility and realize none of us have a corner of everything.”
Webster: “This is about civil marriage. My God is a God of love.”
Curtis: “Proposes a radical redefinition of marriage as we have known it to be… in profoundly negative ways.”
McDonald: “There’s no bad time for civil rights.”