Maine no to marriage equality
Taking its cue from California, the US state of Maine yesterday voted against allowing same-sex marriage.
A referendum was held after the law had already been approved by the state’s legislature. Voters, however, turned their backs on gay marriage, with almost 53 percent voting to repeal the new law.
The result has dashed the hopes of many same-sex Maine couples.
The decision also bodes badly for gaining same-sex marriage rights via the ballot box in the US, with gay marriage lost in every state when put to popular vote.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Iowa and New Hampshire relied on court rulings and state legislators to allow same-sex couples to marry.
Australian Marriage Equality national spokesman Alex Greenwich said he was certain that if same-sex marriage was put to popular vote in Australia, the result would be different.
“Galaxy polling shows that 60 percent of Australians support same-sex marriage, so if a vote arose and a clear question was put to the Australian public, I’m confident it would pass,” he said.
Greenwich said although he believes the ‘religious right’ in Australia is not as strong as in the US, religious influence is impacting on whether the question would be put to the Australian people via a referendum.
“The problem is with our Prime Minister who would rather meet with the Australian Christian Lobby than Australian Marriage Equality to discuss the issue of marriage.”
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Am I so thick to think the voting Australian hasn’t the IQ to distinguish between marriage and human rights? Our dear leader could placate the fundies with a global announcement that Australia is a serious signatory to the Human Rights Convention. Our interpretation of that one word, ‘marriage’, could be redefined.
They could put on the ballot to bring back Slavery, and it would get passed in some states. Some things just should not be put to a popular vote.
The real change will come with the national supreme court, led by the changes Obama is implementing. (similar to the natioanl ruling decriminalising Sodomy in 2003, that over-rode all state laws).
Once Obama has gets marriage discrimination banned at a national constitional level, it will over-ride state law, in the same way the state sodomy laws were over-ridden.
Can you imagine the outcry if enough gays got together and had a proposition put on the ballot to make religions pay tax and be subject to the discrimination laws?
I agree with the last Paul. Same-sex marriage is a fundamental human rights issue that should not be on a ballot. Suppose it got up in Maine or California this time around. In a few months time, right-wing extremists could get it put on another ballot (such is the way US politics works) and gays could lose then.
Our human rights should never be compromised and should never be treated as an election issue – any more than the rights of Christians to worship should be put on a ballot. Human rights, including the rights of gay people to marry the partner of their choice, go beyond any referendum.
Apart from being more heavily populated by far right religious bigots, the problem with putting issues to the ballot in the US is that voting is not compulsory. So when an issue is put to the ballot, interest groups turn up in force to vote whilst those who are apathetic don’t bother. That is what happened in California where the anti-gay groups campaigned against gay marriage and had the numbers to vote against. I don’t see it as an issue that should be put to the ballot anyway. Politicians should just have the balls to make it happen, and then society will just get on with life.
We here in Australia must demand nothing less than total equal rights in every area and that includea gay marriage.Its just gone on too long here.Its just pathetic and sad that Australia lags so behind in G+L rights.
Every time gay marriage is on the ballot – people will REJECT it everytime in record numbers!