BREAKING: Maine legalizes same-sex marriage

[Caliga]

 

Maine legalizes same-sex marriage
State lawmakers passed bill Wednesday, and governor signed it
     
(CNN) -- Same-sex marriage became legal in Maine on Wednesday as Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill less than an hour after the state legislature approved it.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill Wednesday legalizing same-sex marriage.

"I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage," said Baldacci, a Democrat.

But he raised the possibility that the residents of the state would overturn the law, saying, "Just as the Maine Constitution demands that all people are treated equally under the law, it also guarantees that the ultimate political power in the State belongs to the people."

Three other states -- Massachusetts, Connecticut and Iowa -- allow same-sex marriages. Vermont has passed a law making gay and lesbian marriages legal that takes effect in September. New Hampshire lawmakers are close to passing a similar bill.

On Tuesday, the Washington City Council voted to recognize same-sex marriages from states that allow those unions. Mayor Adrian Fenty has indicated that he will sign the measure. It will become law if Congress fails to overturn the measure during a 30-day review period.

A slim majority of Americans are against legal recognition for same-sex marriage, CNN polling found last month.

Fifty-four percent of adults questioned in an April 23-26 nationwide CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll said that marriages between gay or lesbian couples should not be recognized as valid, while 44 percent said they should be considered legal.

The survey's sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

now those 4 gay guys in Maine can get married.

[Caliga]

now those 4 gay guys in Maine can get married.

Prolly lots of bears (lumberjacks) up there.

[The Brain]

 

[Valmy]

Marty should move to Bangor.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

which they may have to rename to Bangim?

[Valmy]

which they may have to rename to Bangim?

But only inside wedlock.  I will not have the sanctity of gay marriage insulted on this board.

[Faeelin]

Lessee.

So that means Maine, NH, MA have same-sex marriage. California, Washington, NJ have civil unions.

So we are now approaching what, a third of the country's population?

[ulmont]

So that means Maine, NH, MA have same-sex marriage. California, Washington, NJ have civil unions.

So we are now approaching what, a third of the country's population?

Maine = 1,316,456 (2008 Census estimate)
New Hampshire = 1,315,809
Massachusetts = 6,497,967
California = 36,756,666
Washington = 6,549,224
New Jersey =  8,682,661
Total = 61,118,783

USA = 304,059,724

So no.  Unless you count 1/5 as "approaching 1/3."

[Neil]

So that means Maine, NH, MA have same-sex marriage. California, Washington, NJ have civil unions.

So we are now approaching what, a third of the country's population?

Maine = 1,316,456 (2008 Census estimate)
New Hampshire = 1,315,809
Massachusetts = 6,497,967
California = 36,756,666
Washington = 6,549,224
New Jersey =  8,682,661
Total = 61,118,783

USA = 304,059,724

So no.  Unless you count 1/5 as "approaching 1/3."

Maybe if you think that California has 50 million illegals?

[Capetan Mihali]

I'll raise a tumbler full of Allen's Coffee Brandy and milk to this news. 

[Valmy]

John Baldacci is the greatest person from Maine since Joshua Chamberlain.  Hell he is even greater than Wilt Chamberlain.

[Faeelin]

So that means Maine, NH, MA have same-sex marriage. California, Washington, NJ have civil unions.

So we are now approaching what, a third of the country's population?

Maine = 1,316,456 (2008 Census estimate)
New Hampshire = 1,315,809
Massachusetts = 6,497,967
California = 36,756,666
Washington = 6,549,224
New Jersey =  8,682,661
Total = 61,118,783

USA = 304,059,724

So no.  Unless you count 1/5 as "approaching 1/3."

Toss in Oregon, the population of Washignton DC, and New York State, which recognizes out of state marriages.

Then eat shit and die. 

[Phillip V]

Who is left in New England? Rhode Island?

[Caliga]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the other day that DC's city council voted to legalize gay marriage as well.  The only dissenting vote came from Marion Barry. 

Congress still needs to approve that, though (technically the District of Columbia is governed by Congress).