Post-election travel: Kalamazoo, anyone? And what about Maine?
Tuesday’s elections results were decidedly a mixed bag. The big gay news story has revolved around the loss for gay marriage in Maine, and it certainly is disheartening. Does it even make sense for the public to vote on laws that affect a segment of the population, especially in a …
Tags: Elections Results, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Gay News, Kalamazoo, marriage, News Story, Population, Segment, Travel MaineMaine voters to pass judgment on gay marriage
(Portland, Maine) Gay marriage has lost in every single state in which it has been put to a popular vote. Come Election Day, gay-rights supporters are hoping to make Maine the exception.
In a referendum that is being closely watched around the country and has drawn millions in out-of-state dollars, Maine …
Tags: Election Day, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Gay Portland, gay rights, Judgment, Lost, Maine Marriage, Maine Voters, marriage, Popular Vote, Portland Maine, Referendum, Rights Supporters, State Dollars, State MaineGay-marriage supporters, opponents square off
(Portland, Me.) A supporter and an opponent of same-sex marriage made their respective cases on live television Wednesday, less than a week before a statewide referendum on whether to allow gay marriage in Maine.
The referendum is about equality under the law, Mary Bonauto of Protect Maine Equality said in a …
Tags: Equality, Gay Maine, Gay Marriage Supporters, Live Television, marriage, Mary Bonauto, Opponent, Opponents, same sex marriage, Statewide ReferendumMaine gay marriage campaigns report donations
(Augusta, Maine) Supporters of Maine’s gay marriage law said Tuesday they’ve collected $2.7 million for their campaign against a ballot proposal to repeal it, more than double the amount the measure’s supporters said they raised.
The group, called NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality, also reported that it has spent $2.2 million …
Tags: Augusta Maine, Ballot Proposal, Campaigns, Donations, Equality, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Maine Law, Maine Marriage, marriage, Marriage LawMaine gay marriage foes hire Calif. Prop 8 firm
(Portland, Maine) Gay marriage foes in Maine have hired the public relations firm that led the successful Proposition 8 proposal to overturn same-sex marriage in California, while supporters have turned to a legislative aide who led a successful campaign to retain Maine’s gay rights law.
Schubert Flint Public Affairs will provide …
Tags: Foes, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Gay Rights Law, Led, Legislative Aide, Maine Law, Maine Marriage, marriage, Portland Maine, Proposal, Public Affairs, Public Relations Firm, same sex marriage, Same Sex Marriage In California, SchubertStates grant more rights to gay couples
When Maine’s highest court ruled two years ago that lesbians Marilyn Kirby and Ann Courtney could adopt the two children they had cared for since 2001, the man who has led the state battle against gay marriage for 25 years got a glimpse of the defeat now looming.
“There’s a sense people have — a sense of inevitability — and a tremendous sense of frustration because of the history of the gay-rights fight in Maine,” said Michael Heath, executive director of the Maine Family Policy Council.
He was referring to rights incrementally accorded gay couples that have led to virtual equality between same-sex and heterosexual unions in states where gay marriage remains banned, a growing trend in Maine and elsewhere, experts on both sides of the issue agree.
These rights are expanding as legally married gay couples relocate to states that don’t allow gay marriage, forcing courts, legislatures and employers to deal with a new wrinkle on issues of custody, divorce, inheritance and end-of-life decisions.
See States grant more rights to gay couples
Chicago Tribune - United States
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Gay marriage becomes law in Maine
(Augusta, Maine) Gov. John Baldacci signed legislation Wednesday allowing same-sex marriage in Maine, minutes after it received final approval in the legislature.
Maine is the fifth state to allow gay marriage.
Up until he put his pen to the bill ,it was anyone’s guess whether he would sign or veto it. Baldacci had said …
Tags: Augusta Maine, Final Approval, Gay Maine, gay marriage, John Baldacci, Legislation, Maine Gov, marriage, Marriage Law, same sex marriageMaine House approves gay marriage
(Augusta, Maine) With a vote of 89-58, the Maine House on Tuesday gave initial approval to legislation allowing same-sex marriage.
The vote spent three hours in impassioned debate on the bill.
It received initial passage in the state Senate on April 30.
The House version and that of the Senate now must be unified …
Tags: Augusta Maine, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Impassioned Debate, Initial Approval, Legislation, Maine Marriage, marriage, same sex marriage, Spent Three, State Senate, VoteMaine House to take up gay marriage bill
(Augusta, Maine) Diane Sammer and her partner, Pam Dennis, were careful to sign papers giving Sammer power of attorney over Dennis’ affairs. Yet after Dennis died of a heart attack and her body was to be cremated, the undertaker refused to accept Sammer’s signature.
After some legal wrangling, Sammer signed a …
Tags: Augusta Maine, Gay Maine, gay marriage, Heart Attack, Maine Marriage, marriage, Marriage Bill, Pam, Power Of Attorney, Sammer, Signature, Undertaker“People’s veto effort” likely if gay-marriage becomes law in Maine
UGUSTA — Michael Heath of the Maine Family Policy Council announced this week he will work to gather the signatures necessary for a people’s veto of the gay-marriage bill.
A few things need to happen first, but during Senate debate Thursday, many senators said they felt it was inevitable that the question would end up before voters.
The Senate voted Thursday 22-14 in favor of the bill. It will be taken up in the House Tuesday, then come back to the Senate for a final vote.
From there, it goes to Gov. John Baldacci, who has not taken a position on the bill.
Assuming he doesn’t veto it, it would be set to take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. Adjournment is set for June 17, give or take a day or two.
This is where the people’s veto comes in.
Heath and others would have 90 days from the date of adjournment to gather 55,087 signatures.
Julie Flynn, deputy secretary of state, said any group wanting to turn in signatures for a people’s veto would have until Sept. 15 to submit signatures. Her office would then have 30 days to determine whether there are enough valid signatures to call for a public vote.
However, in order to make the November ballot, groups would have to turn in signatures by Sept. 3 or 4, because it must be at least 60 days before the election, she said.
If not, the question wouldn’t go to voters until June.
See
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/peoples-veto-…
