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Loading ...Vanasco: Is Maine about to lose marriage?
Poll numbers from the Daily Kos suggest that Maine might be about to go the way of California – even though it seems that the state is currently leaning Democratic.
Send money to Maine. Volunteer. It’s a small state – a few changed minds will make a giant difference.
From the Daily Kos:QUESTION: As you may know there will be one question on the ballot this November in Maine addressing the issue of same-sex unions. In part it will read “Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry?” A yes vote takes away the right of same-sex couples to marry. A no vote keeps the right of same-sex couples to marry. If the election were held today would you vote YES or NO on this question?
| YES | NO | NOT SURE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALL | 48 | 46 | 6 |
| MEN | 52 | 43 | 5 |
| WOMEN | 44 | 49 | 7 |
| DEMOCRATS | 31 | 60 | 9 |
| REPUBLICANS | 74 | 20 | 6 |
| INDEPENDENTS | 45 | 52 | 3 |
| 18-29 | 43 | 52 | 5 |
| 30-44 | 45 | 49 | 6 |
| 45-59 | 51 | 44 | 5 |
| 60+ | 55 | 38 | 7 |
| DISRICT 1 | 45 | 50 | 5 |
| DISTRICT 2 | 51 | 42 | 7 |
QUESTION: Regardless of how you might vote do you favor or oppose allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally?
| FAVOR | OPPOSE | NOT SURE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALL | 47 | 49 | 4 |
| MEN | 43 | 55 | 2 |
| WOMEN | 51 | 43 | 6 |
| DEMOCRATS | 63 | 31 | 6 |
| REPUBLICANS | 20 | 77 | 3 |
| INDEPENDENTS | 53 | 44 | 3 |
| 18-29 | 54 | 41 | 5 |
| 30-44 | 50 | 46 | 4 |
| 45-59 | 45 | 53 | 2 |
| 60+ | 37 | 58 | 5 |
| DISRICT 1 | 51 | 45 | 4 |
| DISTRICT 2 | 43 | 53 | 4 |
Prop 8 figures are: 18-24 (11%) 34% ‘Yes’ and 66% ‘No’.
‘18-29 54 41 5′ that’s quite low for our future generation.
At this rate, euqal rights might lose 45 to 55 if counting in many silent heterosexists.
Looking at these numbers means there are a lot of fair-minded Mainers,but there are also a lot of Mainers in need of education and the number suggests that they are in slightly greater majority. NOM etc are in an advantaged situation to air the lie and distortion-laden TV ads and to bag Maine and go on to assault the marriage equality of yet another New England state with brand new marriage equality.
These folks are not content until they have killed marriage equality in every last state that has it. But they will not quit there. NJ civil unions will their target and all states with domestic partnership laws as well. And they will not stop with that either or with anything else that is pro LGBT.
So, it is critical that the enemies of LGTB equality be halted in Maine at the polls in that state. And that means educating, educating, from door to door throughout Maine on the need to retain Maine marriage equality. Talking to as many people one on one as possible Mainer to Mainer might be a lot more productive than dueling TV ads even though some might be needed.
I have donated a couple of thousand $$s to the No on 1 Maine cause. I don’t normally tell strangers what I spend on anything, but I am hoping that others might dig deep into their own pockets to help as I can’t contribute anymore until my next check arrives at the end of the month.
As for California, I gave a thousand there too, but I am much more inclined for now to help with Maine. It’s a smaller and less populated state and I live in the MidAtlantic border region between the south and the northeast so I am more send more money there.
The effort to reverse Prop 8 by popular vote may not take place there in CA until 2012 from what I have read, whereas Maine’s likelihood to lose marriage equality will be at the polls in that state November 4th of this year. So the Maine situation right now is much more immediate and much more urgent because there is a potential to either retain or to lose Maine’s brand new marriage equality law which still exists but cannot be in effect unless it survives the voters on November 4th.
November 4th is also the day in New Jersey that will determine whether NJ will get a pro-marriage equality governor or one who is determined to prevent NJ marriage equality. That equality fight hinges first on who wins the governorship in that state.
I don’t know who is running the campaign to defeat the overturn of the legislation, but I do hope they have been studying the tactics used by the anti-gay crowd.
Two things should be kept in the forefront. The first is that this is a civil rights issue and not a religious issue. The extreme religious are attempting to force their beliefs on the people of Maine. The argument that allowing same sex couples to marry forces them to accept gays as equals is no different from my having to accept their marriages often their multiple marriages. I and all Mainers have to accept a heterosexual marriage when it’s obvious that no children will ever be produced or adopted by a particular couple and where one of the couple is wealthy and insists on a prenuptial agreement before the wedding takes place.
Another point is that some of the same sex couple who will marry if given the chance are raising children. Some of these children have been legally adopted in Maine. Denying marriage to these couples which in turn will deny many state protections to these children is certainly not beneficial to the people of Maine. The denial of marriage will not take these children from stable homes and make them wards of the state.
Can this be seen as anything other than hateful? No one would deny that forbidding heterosexuals from failed marriage from remarrying to establish new families would have any basis other than animus.
Do the people of Maine really want unknown religious beliefs determining who can or can not marry in Maine.
What other ideas will these religious people then try to force Mainers to accept?
I remember a few years ago, Wisconsin provided a few benefits to same sex couples and this energized the extremists in the anti gay crowd to get a ballot initiative to define marriage as one man one woman in the state’s constitution. During the campaign these people assured the voters that it would have no effect on already established benefits and rights for same sex couples.
The people of Wisconsin voted for the amendment and as soon as it was passed the anti gay groups went after and succeeded in taking away every benefit and right of same sex couples.
No matter how many of us donate to defeat the haters, they far outnumber us. The religious cults, primarily the roman cult is extremely busy gathering signatures and their henchmen, the Knights of Columbus will be donating big time as they did in California. We’re screwed either way. Time for the LGBT to start a national movement to go after these violators and I know there are a lot of straight progressive allies out there who would get on board. Its time to fight back, flex our economic clout and muscle.
To borrow a line from “The West Wing” regarding polling data:
“You haven’t gotten through. There are people you haven’t persuaded yet. These numbers mean dial it up. Otherwise you’re like the French radical watching the crowd run by and saying ‘There go my people, I must find out where they are going so I can lead them.’ ”
This poll doesn’t mean that the effort is doomed, or that Maine will go the way of California. In fact, this poll says that we can’t be cavalier or lazy about our rights. We have to stand up, speak out and be heard until the very last moment before people go to the polls in November.
6% of people said “Not Sure.” There is still plenty of room for vigorous debate to shape the outcome.
Lmao I’m one of the people who conducted that survey at my job. Suddenly everyone cares about surveys and statistics as long as they don’t have to answer for them.
>45-59 51 44 5
The Boomers are going to go down in history for–among other things–making huge strides to support all civil right except for gay civil rights. And, when it comes to the Greatest Generation, fahgedaboutit!
While LGBT people need to lead the fight for their own equality, it is essential to get as many of our allies as possible to speak in our support. This includes our Christian and other religious allies who will be most effective in refuting the lies and fear-mongering of the religious right.
Yes, Brian, I noticed that too! It is
a good sign for the future and these
older people need to be reminded that the
good old days weren’t all that great!
Human rights issues have no business
being decided by the public. They do
not have the intelligence, unfortunately,
to make these decisions without their
prejudices getting in the way. It is
sad that I have to say this about our fellow Americans but it is definately true.
Looks like most of the workers need to WORK District 2!!
Hopefully some of those 60+ people die off before November…and hopefully they’re republican. I’m kidding. But it is comforting to see that the generations coming up are in favor of equal rights. Just shows that the times are changing. Although not fast enough for most of us.
Please donate to no-on-1, help get those last few points to put our cause over-the-top.
You can donate at http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5841/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2566
It’s critical that we don’t let those right-wing religious bastards bury us in yet one more state.
Fight back! Donate!
Alan Arthur Katz
While it’s disappointing to think we don’t have the numbers yet to make this an easy victory, it’s hardly surprising.
I’d say that we should actually be encouraged that the numbers are so close instead of being lopsided against us, but that’s cold comfort to the same-sex couples in Maine who wish to marry and enjoy the same legal protections as opposite-sex couples.