In May, Maine became the fifth state to approve marriage equality, and only the second state to approve gay marriage through the legislative process. Yesterday, sadly, a narrow majority of Maine voters turned back the clock. In a stinging setback for the national gay-rights movement, Maine voters narrowly decided to repeal the state's new law allowing same-sex marriage. With 87 … Read More
Maine Watch
REJECT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LAW No 14969 54.60% Yes 12446 45.40% Updated at 8:54 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. 30 of 605 (5 %) of precincts have been reported
High Turnout In Maine Elections Today
So reports Politico. Conventional wisdom is that this is good for the "No on 1" side.
Handicapping Question 1
I rarely vote at midterm elections, and off-year elections like this one — I barely pay attention, much less vote. This year is no different. There's no local race or bond issue that I particularly care about. A former colleague, Dawn Morgan, is running for re-election as mayor of Kernersville, but I can't vote there. And she's running unopposed. So, congratulations … Read More
Gay Marriage In Maine: The Homophobes Speak
Jim Newell at Wonkette comments on this ad: The latest anti-gay ad in Maine, produced by a paranoid schizophrenic on meth, features random documents with bureaucratic titles and pulled phrases flying around the screen at warp speed, to Warn us. The gay teachers in Maine are all going to come out and then force the gay children — you know, … Read More
Why Yahoo Answers Is The Bestest Thing On The Intertubes
Example: Here's the link. The answers are a scream, too. A sampling: If you walked in on your male neighbor and saw the same thing what would you think? I'm glad I don't have to clean that room when all you guys are 'finished'. Dear sir,You are so the very, very gay. You are in fact so very gay that … Read More
BREAKING: Obama Signs Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Hate Crimes Legislation
Actually the Hate Crimes bill was tacked on to the 2009 Defense Appropriations Act, which Obama signed this afternoon, but it's still there, and Obama noted the significance of it: So today I'm pleased to say that we have proved that change is possible. It may not come quickly, or all at once, but if you push hard enough, it … Read More
Strange Bedfellows
The Catholic Church is in favor of "No 1" in Maine, the voting referendum which, if passed, will overturn the governor and Maine legislature's decisions to allow same-sex marriage. And that's fine, but look who they are getting into bed with: The Maine Grassroots Coalition will hold a press conference in the Hall of Flags at the State House in … Read More
FRC On Old Gays
Last week, the Obama administration did a reachout to a not-much-discussed demographic — elderly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people: HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced plans to establish the nation`s first national resource center to assist communities across the country in their efforts to provide services and supports for older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. Experts estimate … Read More
Baby Einstein? Not So Much
Via Heather: Disney is offering a refund to buyers of its ubiquitous “Baby Einstein” videos, which did not, as promised, turn babies into wunderkinds. Apparently, all those puppets, bright colors, and songs were what we had feared all along—a mind-numbing way to occupy infants. This news has rocked the parenting world, which had embraced the videos as a miraculous child-rearing … Read More
Signs From The Marriage Equality March
More here. BONUS: 2010 California Marriage Protection Act PSA
Marriage Equality Ad Running in Maine: My Extended Family Version
This one is special because it stars my in-law's family. The woman in this ad, Yolande Dumont (who we all call "Memere") is the mother of my brother-in-law. She's a pistol. I haven't seen Raymond (her son) in years, but he's looking well and happy with his partner and their son. Marital apartheid's days are numbered. We just have to want it … Read More
“What Do You Think I Fought For At Omaha Beach?”
A WWII vet talks about marriage equality…
Another Day, Another Michelle Bachmann Lie-Meme
So here's what The World's Worst Politican Evah ™ said on the floor of the House last night: For the video-impaired, here's a transcript: "[T]he bill orders that these clinics protect patient privacy and student records. What does that mean? It means that parents will never know what kind of counsel and treatment that their children are receiving. And as … Read More
If Republicans Are Worried About Wasteful Government Programs….
… and that's why they supposedly oppose the public option, then why are they throwing money at government programs that don't work? That's right. The Senate Finance Committee yesterday rejected two amendments to its health bill which would have added the public option. But what amendment did the Republicans and Blue Dog Dems vote for? Providing more money to abstience education programs: … Read More