Maryland, Maine back gay marriage in breakthrough votes

The Washington Times ^ | November 6, 2012 | Cheryl Wetzstein

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Gay marriage advocates cheered victories in voter initiatives in Maryland and Maine on Tuesday night and seemed poised to win in two other states. The votes were first setbacks at the ballot box for opponents of same-sex marriage after more than 30 victories.

With 93 percent of the vote counted in Maryland, Ballot Question 6, which legalizes gay marriage in the state, was leading by 52 percent to 48 percent, and supporters were already claiming victory in the heated and expensive battle.

“Today the marriage equality map expands to Maryland, giving thousands more loving couples the opportunity to make lifelong commitments through marriage,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, which poured almost $3 million into the Maryland ballot issue.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who pushed for gay marriage, said to Maryland’s children, “please know that you and your families matter to the people of our state. Whether your parents happen to be gay or straight, Democratic, Republican or independent, your families are equal before the eyes of the law.”

In Maine, Question 1, which also approves gay marriage, was ahead 52 percent to 48 percent, with 60 percent of the precincts counted.

“Maine voters chose freedom over fear,” said Shenna Bellows, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine.

In Minnesota, an amendment to limit marriage to only one man and one woman was in a dead heat: With 53 percent of the votes tallies, 48 percent approved the amendment, 48 percent rejected it and 4 percent left it blank. The amendment must have 50 percent or more affirmative votes to be adopted.

In Washington state, the fourth state with a gay marriage measure on the ballot Tuesday, early returns showed voters approving gay marriage 52 percent to 48 percent . . .

[Lurking Libertarian]

Gay marriage is not winning in the deep South. It will have to be by judicial fiat after all of the other blue and purple states adopt gay marriage.

The deep red states are not going to vote for gay marriage any time in my lifetime, but I think we are going to see a lot more blue and purple states voting for it in the next few years.

The current Supreme Court is not going to hold that gay marriage is a constitutional right, but Obama may get more Supreme Court appointments in the next four years.

More importantly, I think there is a 50-50 chance that even the current Supreme Court would hold that, under the Constitution's Full Faith and Credit Clause, every state must recognize a marriage that was legal in the state where it was entered into.

[Pining_4_TX]

Ah... well, you learn something new every day. ;-)