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Loading ...Gay marriage effort shifts back to New England
03.27.2009 3:53pm EDT
(Montpelier, Vt.) Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery. Neighboring New Hampshire declared its independence from England before any other colony. Maine led the way with Prohibition.
These days, Yankee activism has another cause – gay rights.Two states in New England already allow same-sex marriage, and lawmakers in three more are considering it, although passage is far from certain.
To some, the push is emblematic of a live-and-let-live ethic and burnished by gradual acceptance of gay relationships after Vermont’s groundbreaking civil unions law took effect in 2000. Others see it as a targeted effort by a vocal minority that has turned to the Northeast because its message can’t get traction elsewhere.
Only Massachusetts and Connecticut permit same-sex marriage. California, which briefly allowed it before a voter initiative in November repealed it, allows civil unions, which offer many of the same rights that come with marriage.
New Jersey, New Hampshire and Oregon also offer civil unions or domestic partnerships. New York and New Jersey are weighing same-sex marriage legislation, and the Iowa Supreme Court has heard arguments on a marriage equality suit.
But for now, the focus on legal recognition of gay relationships has returned to northern New England.
“There is not an easy way to get the issue on the ballot and before the voters so that it can be decided directly by the people,” said Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes gay marriage and is underwriting a radio campaign against it.
“Therefore, it is more a creature of special interest politics and legislative dealmaking. These are small states which can be influenced by fairly large amounts of outside money coming in. And it’s very hard for regular people to feel that they can have a voice on this issue in these states.”
The voices – on both sides – are growing louder:
- New Hampshire, which enacted a civil unions law last year, moved a step closer to legalizing gay marriage Thursday when the state House of Representatives voted in favor. The state Senate still must vote, though, and the governor – who signed a civil unions bills last year – opposes it.
- The Vermont Senate has approval a similar measure, but the House has yet to vote. Gov. Jim Douglas vowed Wednesday to veto the bill if it reaches him, spurring a protest that drew about 300 people to the Statehouse on Friday. Protesters say they’ll push to get enough votes in the Legislature for a veto override.
- In Maine, a bill to legalize gay marriage has nearly 60 co-sponsors in the Legislature, but Gov. John Baldacci opposes it.
Beth Robinson, who leads the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, says the close proximity of the New England states has allowed people to see for themselves that civil unions work and gay marriage should be allowed to. Massachusetts got same-sex marriage in 2004.
“It’s a lot harder for someone who lives near Massachusetts to say that the sky’s going to fall if we share the same sky. Someone halfway across the country might not see that,” Robinson said.
Another supporter is Stan Baker, 64, of Shelburne, Vt., whose marriage equality lawsuit led to Vermont’s first-in-the-nation civil unions law nine years ago.
“Many of our states have really championed civil rights, social justice and freedom issues and understand that when one person’s rights are denied, it affects all of us,” Baker said.
New Hampshire state Rep. Ed Butler, a 59-year-old Democrat who obtained a civil union last year with his partner of 30 years, said the bill there has big hurdles ahead. But many people want it, he said.
“At least in New Hampshire, there’s a strong libertarian streak – respect of individual rights and respect for your neighbor. If you are a good and contributing member of your community, then people see no reason to deny you what seems reasonable,” Butler said.
Opponents contend that the measures don’t have popular support, saying that gay rights measures are nearly always defeated at the polls. Amendments to ban gay marriage were approved in November in Arizona and Florida. Now, 30 states have gay marriage bans in their constitutions.
Michael Heath, executive director of the Maine Family Policy Council, which opposes same-sex marriage, said lawmakers out of touch with real people are the ones pushing same-sex marriage.
“I think it’s because the politicians up here have become more left-leaning. I have experienced a significant disconnect between the public in Maine and the politicians on the issue of gay rights,” Heath said.
Definitely don’t romanticize New England, but a lot of people here are more moderate in their views than in other parts of the country. In NH people tend to be pretty well-educated and the culture is quite reserved. If you stand up and start yelling hellfire and damnation or any kind of outright bigotry you ‘generally’ won’t do well here.
Now if the NH Senators who voted for civil unions also vote for marriage I count 12 yes and 9 no with 2 Democratic unknowns (although party affiliation isn’t always a reliable indicator in these parts).
As for Gov. Lynch he has said he ‘opposes gay marriage’ but I have not found anything indicating that says he would veto gay marriage legislation if it reaches his desk. His own spokesman stated as much to the AP just yesterday. Here are Lynch’s comments, from his own website, upon signing the civil union legislation in 2007 – it’s encouraging: http://www.governor.nh.gov/news/2007/053107.html
Maine “led” the way with prohibition? Um….is that a good thing?!? Maine also became the very first state in the history of the U.S. to repeal a Gay Civil Rights bill back in 1998. Maine was also the only New England state to host a branch of the KKK! maine does not “lead” the way on anything except overtaxation, crooked, swindlin’ politicians and extreme HOMOPHOBIC attitudes. PERIOD!
AP got it wrong!
California offers Domestic Partnerships, NOT Civil Unions!
The AP has corrected its story to say that California offers domestic partnerships. This messes up the grammar in the next paragraph. I bet the writer is hetero
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAY_MARRIAGE_BATTLEGROUND?SITE=MALOW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
I think someone SHOULD start a movement, state by state, to tax ALL church property. If that was accomplished I’m sure our economy would get a very large jolt of new found wealth. Why are they tax exempt anyway?? What do they do except to corrupt minds through fear?
Doesn’t the saying go “The way Maine goes, so does the Nation.” or is it New Hampshire?
New England is making grounds! Their GLTBQ organizations are very organized, and work very well from grass root perspectives. But we are also talking about a part of the country where small town mentality works well. Everyone knows everyone’s buisness. And that includes sexaulity. Everyone wants the best for the community, because they are like family. SO it’s easier to appeal equality to them because they have a better understanding on how it’s going to affect their neighbors.
Michael Heath and just blow it out of his butt. That jerk. He mentions the disconnection between politicians and mainers because back in 2007 he met with the challenge of facing up against Replublican senator argued for the inclusion of sexuality, percieved sexual orientation and transgenders into the Maine Civil Rights Bill. After that he pulled his status a republican voter.
But half surprised at Baldacci though. He was all for the inclusion of gays in the civil rights bill, but now stands back when they go for marriage?
New Hampshire was the first state to declare its independence in January 1776, meaning that for the following six months until the founding of the United States of America with the Declaration of Independence, New Hampshire was the first post-colonial nation-state in the Americas. Rhode Island on May 4, 1776 declared its independace. History is fun
New England was at the forefront in the abolitionist movement…seems it’s an area ahead of the times.
California has “domestic partnerships” … I’m still voting for civil unions for all … Best wishes to those in New England, leading the way for the rest of the nation.
Missy Maggie Gallagher:
We really should put it to the voters to see if they would like to start taxing churches, especailly the ones that like to look down their noses at everyone else.
Tom in Long Beach
both govs-democrat and republican oppose marriage equality ?? religion or plain bigotry? what gives ??
Hi Andrew! I’m also from Rhode Island and noticed the error right away!
Although Rhode Island has virtually no chance in passing a same-sex marriage bill with our current governor, the state does recognize the same-sex marriages of other states as marriages. The only thing stopping a same-sex couple from getting married is at most a 40-minute drive outside the state. So why we don’t just legalize them is anybody’s guess.
Who knew that New England would lead the way for gay marriage rights.Way to go
California, which briefly allowed it before a voter initiative in November repealed it, allows civil unions,
and CA does not offer civil unions
Rhode Island was the first colony to declare its independence from the crown – not New Hampshire. Get it right, AP!
- A Proud Rhody