STATEMENT: LGBT Equality Fight ContinuesCountry Is Making Progress Despite Setback in Maine
By Jeff Krehely
Maine voters rejected same-sex couple marriage rights yesterday, but other states are moving toward equality.
Maine voters rejected a state law Tuesday that would have allowed same-sex couples to marry. Their repeal comes just six months after the measure was passed by the Maine legislature and signed by the Democratic Governor, John Baldacci.
The vote in Maine to prohibit marriage for same-sex couples is disappointing. Marriage discrimination makes it more difficult for members of same-sex couples to care for each other and their loved ones, and it weakens the critical role families play in our society.
At the same time, it is important to see the bigger picture. In recent years, several states have adopted marriage equality laws, while many others have taken steps toward full equality by implementing civil unions and domestic partnerships. Most important, a clear majority of Americans-76 percent-support some form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples. It is only a matter of time before all couples are recognized and valued, and marriage discrimination becomes a legal and social artifact.
There was also some good election news yesterday for gay and transgender Americans. Voters in Kalamazoo, MI approved adding gay and transgender people to the city's existing nondiscrimination ordinance. This expanded law will make sure everyone in Kalamazoo is treated fairly in employment, public accommodations, and housing. Until a federal nondiscrimination law is passed, it is critically important for cities like Kalamazoo and states to establish their own protections for gay and transgender people.
Finally, initial returns out of Washington State showed voters there approving a domestic partnership law that gives nearly almost all the benefits of marriage at the state level but because of DOMA no federal benefits. This would make Washington the first state to support domestic partnerships by popular vote.
Despite the loss in Maine, the country is still making progress on expanding and defending gay and transgender equality.
Jeff Krehely is the Director of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at American Progress.
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The Center for American Progress is a nonpartisan research and educational institute dedicated to promoting a strong, just and free America that ensures opportunity for all. We believe that Americans are bound together by a common commitment to these values and we aspire to ensure that our national policies reflect these values. We work to find progressive and pragmatic solutions to significant domestic and international problems and develop policy proposals that foster a government that is "of the people, by the people, and for the people."
The Day After a Hard Night
Kate Kendell
Executive Director
National Center for Lesbian Rights11.04.09
D?j? vu is welcome when it flashes us back to a welcome or happy memory. Today d?j? vu is not so pleasant. The loss of marriage rights in Maine is a traumatic reminder of our Prop 8 fight in California. On election night one year ago, I spent a sleepless night tormented by every thought of what might have made a difference. My colleagues in Maine spent just such a night. Same-sex couples in Maine have been dealt a dehumanizing setback. And we are all diminished by this loss. But after 12 months to ruminate and recover from what happened in California, I have some insight for them.
One: Yesterday's loss, while a real setback and a crushing disappointment, is only a temporary setback. We all know the end to this civil rights story--we will win full equality. But it will be a path marked with pain and brutalizing defeats.
Two: It is a travesty of every principle that made this nation great that the rights of a minority group can be put up to a popular vote. There are many ignominious moments in the history of this country, moments of shame that were corrected by Courts or by legislative action. If those great strides, in Women's rights, in the rights of religious minorities or of African-Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans or American Indians had been put up to popular vote we all know how those votes would have turned out. The shame would have endured. And the taint on our Democracy would have continued.
Third: And there is no polite way to say this--one cannot claim to be fair-minded and still support measures which deny full equality. You either support full justice and civil rights and equality or you don't. Period. End of side-stepping and excuses.
For my friends and family who support civil unions or domestic partnerships but do not support the full equality of my 16-year relationship and the security of my two children which rests on that full equality--and yes, that means marriage, right now, in this country--you have to get off that fence. We are past the moment when you can claim support of me and other LGBT folks you know and love and yet still stand with those who deny us marriage. To not support marriage equality, right here and right now, means you believe that same-sex couples are less valid, less equal, and less deserving. Such a position is untenable with any claim that one is "fair-minded."
We are in a difficult moment. This is a hard day. But we can't lose hope or stop believing in the rightness of our cause. We have the privilege of living in the midst of our own civil rights movement. The cost of that privilege is the same cost it has been in every movery movement--our humanity and dignity is attacked and undermined and
we stand tall, never give up, and never lose faith. Today is a test, and we must be the measure of it.
Statement by GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios on 2009 Election Results in Maine, Washington and Kalamazoo, Mich.New York, NY, November 4, 2009 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on the nation's media to focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and couples in covering the results and aftermath of yesterday's votes in Maine, Washington state and Kalamazoo, Mich.
In Maine, voters eliminated the state's marriage equality law, which was passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. John Baldacci earlier this year.
"We are disappointed and disheartened by results in Maine, where we saw marriage equality eliminated for loving and committed couples," said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)."It's wrong to take basic rights and protections away from neighbors, friends and co-workers who just want the same opportunity to care for their loved ones and families. It's wrong, unfair and, frankly, un-American. Many Mainers voted that responsibility and commitment should continue to be respected and protected, but a slim majority wrested away the basic protections of marriage from couples and their families. Opponents campaigned on fear and misinformation leaving those loving and committed gay and lesbian couples- and our allies- back to square one: forced to lead lives without the needed protections that marriage affords. We must commit to sharing more stories on the truth about our lives and families to ensure the legal protections of marriage for all loving, committed couples."
In Kalamazoo, Mich., voters approved a nondiscrimination ordinance that covers sexual orientation and gender identity and prevents gay and transgender people from being fired from their jobs for being openly gay or transgender.
"In Kalamazoo, Mich., fairness prevailed. Voters sent a message that all hardworking people should be treated fairly and have the chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families without fear of being fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance.""The tireless commitment of state and local campaigns in support of LGBT equality led by Protect Maine Equality, One Kalamazoo and Washington Families Standing Together, along with hundreds of volunteers as well as representatives from national organizations, opened many more doors for our community as we continue to work toward full equality."
In Washington state, first-day election returns on Referendum 71 showed that a majority of voters are backing the state's expanded domestic partnership law. Full results are not yet known because ballots did not have to be received by Election Day, only postmarked by Election Day. & feflt;p>
"We are encouraged by these early results that Washington voters support advancing important legal protections to all Washingtonians," continued Barrios.GLAAD assisted local organizations on the ground in Washington, Kalamazoo, Michigan and Maine with media trainings to share stories of gay and transgender pepeople - and their allies - with fellow community members and through local media outreach campaigns. GLAAD has been on the ground in Washington state to assist Washington Families Standing Together field reporter inquiries, help local LGBT couples and allies share their stories in the media, organize press conferences, promote letters to the editors, and spread the word about the importance of approving Referendum 71.
"We urge media reporting on these election results to highlight the stories of the hardworking individuals and loving and committed couples impacted by these decisions."About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
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