Associated Press
Whitney Young, left, embraces her partner Marlena Blonsky at an election watch party in Seattle on Tuesday for proponents of Referendum 74, which upheld Washington's new same-sex marriage law.
Rachel noted on the show on Monday night, "Tomorrow could also be a big night for gay rights. So far out of the 32 times that marriage equality for same sex couples has been on a ballot in an American state, the record for the gay rights side has been 0-32. But tomorrow, that might finally change."
And change it did.
In an historic election night for the gay rights movement, voters in Maine and Maryland became the first in the country to approve same-sex marriage, breaking a 32-state losing streak.
According to the Associated Press, Maine passed a ballot measure legalizing it on Tuesday night -- an issue put on the ballot by gay marriage supporters -- while voters in Maryland approved a law legalizing gay marriage that was actually passed earlier this year by the state legislature. The Washington Post reports that gay couples in Maryland will be able to wed starting Jan. 1.
The success continued in the state of Washington: "With the vote count still incomplete, Washington's Referendum 74 was ahead with 52 percent of the votes. If it's ultimately successful, same-sex couples could apply for marriage licenses as early as Dec. 6."
Maine, Maryland, and the state of Washington will join Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Iowa, Vermont, New York, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia in allowing two consenting adults to get married, regardless of sexual orientation.
What's more, in Minnesota, anti-gay activists pushed an amendment to the state constitution to solidify a ban on marriage equality, and as of this morning, it appears voters rejected the amendment.
It wasn't long ago that this issue was an automatic win for the right at the ballot box. As the arc of history bends towards justice, it's a new, more progressive day.
Leave a Comment:
I'm not fond of Gay Marriage,
But I've seen so many pooched Hetro marriages I can't help but think, whatever works for you, have at it.
I've come to think of marriage as a creation to provide a stable atmosphere for child rearing and of mutual survival.
So whatever works for whoever, have at it, and good luck.
.
Wait...What???? What??????
What the hell are you talking about?
sorrry, my edit didn't go through, but now it did.
.
I just couldn't understand what you were trying to say
As for the "whatever works" I am pretty sure that's all the LGBT community has ever asked for. The same right to be as happy or miserable as the rest of us.
As for hetro marriages...they aren't in to great shape as it is but that is an issue in, of and all by it self. I have known more than a few "Hetro" married couples that didn't last a month and Gay ones that have lasted 40 years or more.
1) Rob, if you're against "gay marriage" then don't get "gay married".
2) "Whatever works" - well we'll revisit this topic in the next generation and if the LGBT have divorce rates as high as "hetero's" then we can talk.
3) Even if people choose not to procreate, they should still be allowed to marry whomever they love.
Zora, I don't think #2 applies at all. Nobody is talking about taking the right to get married away from heterosexuals just because the divorce rate is so high - we shouldn't introduce that idea when it comes to LGBT. I think the point is, they shouldn't have to "prove" anything at all to enjoy the same rights and freedoms as anyone else.
"Should everyone have the same rights I have? I don't know, I don't really care about marriage, and people like me (heterosexuals) are dropping the ball... so... meh..."
It shouldn't matter what the divorce rate is, or what the purpose of marriage is - that is not really the issue, it's a right for some, and not for others, and as something granted via our government, it should be for all.
Also, it shouldn't matter, but there are so many gay couples longing to get married that have proved their worthiness, myself included, it's exhausting and unfair having to be a shining beacon of an example, but it's worth it. I just want to marry the woman I love and continue raising the two kids that we got custody of at the beginning of the year with all the perks, responsibilities, and privileges as other married people.
It's like people treat our desires for equality and basic civil rights as if we're some kid who wants a puppy but doesn't realize all of the hard work and un-fun moments we're signing up for, or like we have to prove we can handle it. Just tired of it being unfair, and having to say "my significant other" at work, etc. I'm so glad WA voted yes on 74! Now I can marry my partner <3
People should be able to marry for whatever reasons seem good to them. That goes for straight couples, gay couples, ace couples, whatever. Heteronormativity does nobody any good.
They/we should be treated equally under the laws.
I know people are uncomfortable, but nobody's forcing anyone to do anything. It's about equality for people/families.
I am happy all these state are more and more accepting, even though it still has some opposition. People will come to realize marriage encourages stability and stability (especially if there are children in the family) is a good thing.
I've always been baffled by the assumption by wingers (and some others) that personal discomfort with something is enough of a reason to stop it in it's tracks. They're ooged out by same-sex couples doing the nasty, and they think that earns them the privilege of interfering with the lives of homosexuals. But I'm asexual, so I'm pretty much ooged out period. Somehow I doubt that the people who are convinced that their personal feelings are good enough to stop gay people from being gay would see the humor in me trying to pull the same trick on them. Nor would they be amused if a gay person did so, for that matter. It should be simple: your feelings only govern your own life. But heteronormativity is a powerful force, it's a kind of blindness, and straight people are seldom put into situations where they have to carefully think out the full implications of their sexuality in a sexuality-diverse world.
I agree, there are people erroneously thinking that "majority rules" in a democratic republic that touts liberty and justice for all.
This is all part of being in a modern world. We have to let go of thinking everyone has to abide by my beliefs, because we are the majority.
It appears that is more and more apparent. Not everyone does what people think they're doing. Not everyone respected in some moral authority is doing what they are telling others to do, either.
Here's an idea: live your own life by your own core beliefs. The if we treat everyone as ourselves and respect differences. It is a hard lesson, especially when one has to order (that word in all its meanings) all things around them.
It is truly a hard thing to get folks to think outside their own situation.
Even putting it into a religious context, most faiths have a basic premise of caring about others, helping and respecting others as yourself.
That said, they at the same somehow feel it is proper to treat certain people as lepers and not as someone to be kind to, but keep them away.
There are many things in that category where people are blind to the experiences of others. Racial, religion, general outlooks of what is right and wrong. But trying to order everyone to a certain mindset is not the goal, but maintain freedom to live according to your own ideals if it is within the law and not harming others. This is freedom, we in America are free to pursue happiness our own way, as long as it is not harming others.
Turning around NOM's premise that marriage equality is harmful, there is really no basis, only that continuing the marginalizing of "them" is harmful to "them". No matter how you look at it, the heteronormal are not harmed by marriage equality. They are able to live according to their own standards. This is the court standard, from my understanding, Who is harmed is being decided.
Not to mention, they assume that a same gender marriage or relationship is sexual. You know, there's probably a very large number of people traditionally married with no sex. I see what you mean, I am ooging myself out thinking of this stuff. I just don't automatically jump to those thoughts.
Wow, talk about people jumping to conclusions
heteronormalheteronormalists?
Although they are harmed by heteronormativity. Think of the number of straight parents who spend sleepless nights wondering if their kids are turning out 'normal' or not? All that worry over sexual orientation and gender identity, and for what? So they can have a cardiac event if a child does actually turn out to be queer in some fashion? Or worse: break up the family over it? Some defense of the family they've got going on over on the other side.
YEAH!!!
Iowa also retained the judge that the anti-gay people wanted to get rid of. Not exactly an LGBT vote - but close!!
I disagree - it most certainly was an LGBT vote. The question was "is interpreting the state constitution's guarantee of equality to all its citizens to include LGBT people sufficient for being summarily run out of office for misconduct?"
Two years ago, the answer was seen as "unequivocally, yes" - meaning that any Justice who dared "side" with the queers could consider their career over, even when the ruling was unanimous.
That's no longer true. Still sorry about the three who got tarred and feathered last time, but this ended that - at least for now.
Telling Supreme Court Justices that they won't lose their jobs by supporting gay rights definitely IS a gay rights victory.
It ain't over 'til it's over.
Every public officeholder swears an oath of office. Ask yourself, 'What's the point of ANY additional pledge?' Follow the money.
Any officeholder who genuinely believes in representative government should have already publicly denounced the Teaparty/Taliban's efforts to disenfranchise Americans.
If you stood in line to vote, write your STATE legislators an invitation to the 21st century. Washington state voters had their ballots weeks before election day.
The Teaparty/Taliban are still afraid of women making decisions. (John 8:3-11)
Trickle down not only doesn't spur economic growth, it stifles it.
"Corporations are people" = "He with the most gold rules"
Proud of my fellow Minnesotans for standing against discrimination and I look forward to the day where we join Maine and Maryland in standing FOR equality.
Not only did we defeat this amendment but also many of the Republicans who fought to put it there. The GOP plan to increase their own voter turnout failed and Democrats succeeded in retaking the majority in the state legislature.
Also in the 8th Congressional district, Democrat Rick Nolan defeated Chip Cravaak. A pretty good night for everybody.
It almost makes up for Bachmann's reelection. Almost, I mean really, what is with those people?
Bachman outspent Graves 12 to 1. Her ads were full of hate and lies but Graves did not have the funds to counter it. Also, the district was redrawn to better favor Bachman so this should have been a slam dunk for her. As of today, she won by less then 3,000 votes. The split was very close to 50/50.
Any gay man or woman can have my wife... LOL Just kidding...
You did not just use a "Take my wife...Please" joke
Take my wife, please?
(Ooh, just a bit faster than me, Dragoon :p)
In retrospect I am actually more amused (or possibly concerned) by the fact that we both know Henny Youngman jokes...
I'm that age where I know the joke but not the attribution. Which kinda makes me feel weird.
Yay, super-exciting! I'm not worried about marriage now, but knowing equality is being more accepted is happy news!
Love is love, it has no gender. My spouse and I have been together for 41 years, and yes we are married and we are both of the same gender. How many heterosexual marriages do you know where the couple has been in a committed loving relationship for 41 years.
Oh yes, we have no desire to "attack" our heterosexual married neighbors. Why on earth should we, they like us and we like them.
People just get over your biases and accept the fact there are those who love each other deeply AND they just happen to be of the same gender.
It should be noted that these victories show that not only are same-sex marriage measures no longer an automatic win, but they are not a guarantee of increased conservative turnout and thus additional congretional GOP wins. In MN, even with a same-sex marriage ballot measure, the DFL took back control of the entire state legislature and recaptured one US House seat. Last night wasn't only a decisivie victory for people's rights, it was a distinct message that these measures can no longer be used as a guaranteed boost in conservative turnout.
Hurrah! I am very glad for the folks who can now be married just like me (who celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary last week). Happily, we are taking steps forward, not returning to the delusions that a 1000 years ago was the "best times".
Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul. -
Mark Twain
I reject last night's results, because conservatives keep telling me that the country is Center-Right.
With all that's broken in the world..this is still an issue? For shame.
A Great step forward ... but so much more to do ! SIGH ....
This is great! It has been a good election night and hopefully 2013 will be the year of equality.
For so long I've gone back and forth...trying to figure it all out.Is being Gay 'normal',is it 'right'............well,congratulate me on growing up.........and who friggin cares.People are people no matter what -when-where-how-why etc. ALL people deserve respect,freedom to be and total equal rights! I look forward to a day when everyone can freely be who they are without any tags at all!!:)
I am soooo glad it is over. I in my 64 years never have I ever seen such stupidity. The pure hate. The right person was elected. Enough said.
Thank you Racheal for being the one who I could count on for the truth.
As a Marylander, I was very proud to cast my vote in support of Question 6, and see us be the first state to take this great step in expanding equality in the eyes of the law. I've always agreed that religions can define their marriages however they like, but civil marriage is a civil right. A monumental victory for separation of Church and State!
I 100% agree. :)
Look at those two lesbians clearly plotting to destroy America now that their marriage has been protected!!! They aren't cuddling- they're planting death charges with their cuteness!!!
We're all doomed!!!! The zombie apocalypse is nigh! Repent!!!
(Do I really have to say I'm being sarcastic here???)
I have really serious issues with civil rights being up to a popular vote. The right to marry the person you love is one ALL OF US should have. Not enough Minnesotans understand that yet, but I think they will in time. I'm VERY HAPPY that Maryland and Maine did the right thing. Hopefully, Washington will as well.
I too think that more and more Minnesotans are coming around. And with young people, the question of marriage equality is becoming a no-brainer - of COURSE gay people should be allowed to marry. The junior high I work in held a mock vote yesterday - the marriage amendment was voted down by 72% of our kids (voter ID lost by about 70%).
So proud of my fellow Maine citizens for voting to give same-sex couples the same dignity that everyone else in this state enjoys. So very happy for my gay friends that can now embrace full rights as couples!
Maryland was NOT the first - Massachusetts was! YAY for Maryland, Maine and all other states that allow equal right to marry whomever you want to marry!
Oh, I'm not claiming MD was the first state to allow same-sex marriage. That distinction does in fact fall to MA. I was referring to MD being the first state to uphold same-sex marriage by popular vote, which indicates that support for equality permeates not only majority of the legislate, but also the majority of the voters, which is a great thing. I agree that civil rights should not be up for a vote, but I'm very glad to live in the first state to get that vote right.
Way to go Washington!! Can't wait to get back. One of my dearest lifetime friend was in a committed 15 year gay relationship and the only way her partner could get her released from the hospital to go home to die was by exercising her living will. Thank God she had one. People get so mired in morality, they forget about the legalities.
I'm happy to live in Maryland. And happy to have voted for Question 6 (marriage equality). I love that the law recognizes gay marriage while protecting churches that decide not to perform them. Exactly as it should be.
I am an old guy [70] and grew up in the 50s and 60s in a very small Republican town. Homophobia was rampant in my town. I'm sure there were gays and lesbians in town, but the closet doors were so tightly sealed, nobody could ever tell. Now, we are a society with surprising diversity and a collage of color and differences. How wonderful it is to have people just being themselves and that 'being' is allowed. I believe all of us deserve to be respected for our sameness as well as our different-ness. Marriage should be the business of the people making the contract...who the hell cares who signs the contract.
I should point out that it's regardless of gender, not sexual orientation. As Michele Bachmann told us, there's nothing stopping gay men marrying women.
But yes, good news for equality. Now, statehood for Puerto Rico!