Op-Ed: Real Mainers Step Up for ‘No on 1’ Ads
Posted on Oct 02, 2009 at 09:14 am
October 2, 2009
Bill Nemitz: Undecided Question 1 voters in Maine should note that "only one side is backing up its message with real names and real faces of real Mainers. The 'No on 1' campaign overflows with real Mainers who are... eager to go public in their support of the freedom to marry. Stand for Marriage Maine has attached only four faces to its televised ad campaign, and only one of the four is actually from Maine." [Link]
Maine Faith Leaders Support Equality, Call for NO on 1 in November
Posted on Oct 02, 2009 at 08:50 am
October 1, 2009
Support Maine marriage equality here.Faith leaders from the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry in Maine gathered simultaneously today in Portland and Bangor to endorse NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality. Representing 18 faith traditions from Fort Kent to Kittery and from Farmington to Castine, the coalition of active and retired clergy believe that all Maine families should be treated equally under the law.
The coalition, according to its key spokespersons, said only marriage equality confers full dignity and respect to loving and committed gay and lesbian couples. The religious leaders also said they are speaking out so that people of faith know that many faith leaders believe deeply in fully supporting all their congregant families.
“I believe that faithful, lifelong, monogamous relationships are among the building blocks of a healthy and stable society, “ said Rt. Rev. Steven T. Lane, IX Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine. “Last spring, the rights and obligations of civil marriage were extended to all Maine citizens. The passage of Question 1 would deny those rights . . . create two classes of citizens and deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society.”
“Marriage creates and enhances stable, committed relationships and the sharing of economic resources and responsibility. Marriage nurtures the individual, the couple, and children,” said Rabbi Darrah Lerner of Congregation Beth El in Bangor . “Good marriages benefit our communities and express our religious values of long-term commitment and faithfulness.”
Coalition members also noted that throughout Maine 's history, religious liberties have been both valued and protected under the law and that nothing in the new marriage equality law threatens that tradition.
“Religious groups will have the same freedom to act or not act with respect to same-sex unions as they have now,” said Retired United Methodist Pastor and District Superintendent, Rev. Donald Rudalevige, who lives in Cape Elizabeth.
“It is so very important that we affirm the rights of all families in the State of Maine by voting No on 1, for it is my belief that all families are loved by God,” said Rev. Becky Gunn, Pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bangor. “And, all families deserve equal protection under the law.” [Link]
Anti-Marriage Equality Fundraising in Maine to be Investigated
Posted on Oct 02, 2009 at 08:34 am
October 1, 2009
The state ethics commission voted 3-2 on Thursday to order an investigation of the fundraising efforts by the National Organization of Marriage, a Washington, D.C.,-based organization that has given money to fight the freedom to marry in Maine. The investigation is expected to take several weeks and will likely not be completed before the Nov. 3 election. [Link]
Nate Silver: Marriage Equality Ban is Underdog in Maine
Posted on Oct 02, 2009 at 08:22 am
October 1, 2009
Nate Silver re-visits his April analysis of marriage equality bans in all 50 states - and looks again at Maine. "Time to play oddsmaker: I'd lay about 3 to 1 against the [Maine] marriage ban passing. But it's liable to be fairly close -- clearly a winnable campaign for conservatives and a losable one for liberals, especially if the sort of complacency sets in that we saw in California. [Link]
Op-Ed: A Question of Equality over Fear
Posted on Oct 01, 2009 at 11:51 am
September 30, 2009
When voters in Maine check off their respective boxes on Question One in a few weeks, their decision should be based on one determining factor: whether or not they believe gay couples should be denied the right to marry each other. Other diversionary issues have been dragged into the debate, but they shouldn’t sway citizens from the essential matter at stake. [Link]
Maine Question 1 Fueling a Fundraising Fight
Posted on Oct 01, 2009 at 11:08 am
October 1, 2009
With less than five weeks until Election Day, both camps in the battle over Question 1 are busy raising money to keep their ads on the air as Mainers prepare to cast ballots on whether to allow gay marriage in Maine. [Link]
Maine Anti-Marriage Equality Campaign Complaint Rejected
Posted on Oct 01, 2009 at 11:05 am
September 30, 2009
The Maine ethics commission staff says no investigation is warranted into fundraising by anti-gay groups supporting the campaign to repeal Maine's marriage equality law. The full commission is set to vote on the matter Thursday. [Link]
President Obama Must Speak Out On Maine Now
Posted on Sep 30, 2009 at 12:14 pm
September 29, 2009
David Mixner says: "The time for President Obama to make clear that he opposes the ballot measure in [Maine] is now. If he waits any longer, the Maggie Gallagher brigade against human rights will use his opposition to marriage to prove that he supports the proposition." [Link]
Support No on 1/Protect Maine Equality here.
Andy Szekeres, NO On 1/Protect Maine Equality: Push us over the top—$40,000 by September 30 at M
Posted on Sep 30, 2009 at 11:32 am
No on 1/Protect Maine EqualitySeptember 30, 2009
Andy Szekeres: All of our fundraising by midnight tonight -- just 12 hours from now-- will be included in our 2nd quarter report. When this report comes out, we'll be judged on whether we have the financial strength to win the this election. Contibutors blew past our $28,000 goal yesterday - let's show them how strong we really are! [Link]
Op-Ed: Approval of Pro-Gay Referendum 71 in Washington State Attracts Broad Support - Voter Turnout
Posted on Sep 29, 2009 at 03:18 pm
September 24, 2009
As impressive as the coalition is for passage of R-71, it is no substitute for a strong turnout during an off-year election. An array of endorsements reinforces the importance of this thoughtful extension of the state's domestic-partnership law. Adoption of R-71 is still grounded in casting votes to approve its passage. [Link]
Support R-71 campaign here.