No Equality for Maine

Yesterday, the ACLU of Massachusetts journeyed to our neighboring state of Maine to help aid the No on 1 campaign to protect marriage equality for LGBT couples. We went door to door, made phone calls, and spoke to some wonderful folks about the importance of marriage equality, but in the end, it wasn’t enough. Gay marriage was vetoed.

As we drove back last night (and started to hear unfavorable reports), we began to speculate about the forces against marriage equality. The arguments made by the opposition bordered on the ludicrous (ads that “appalled” Maine’s Attorney General stated that gay sex would be taught in schools) – so what makes a person stand in the way of others’ freedom to marry whom they choose?

It is the opinion of this humble blogger that personal discomfort is the number one culprit. All it takes is for an otherwise uncomfortable person to get to know one (just one!) LGBT community member – and often, they’ll become more supportive of LGBT rights.

Make no mistake – yesterday’s vote was a blow to civil rights in Maine. However, the ACLU – and all ACLU affiliates – will continue to work for equal marriage rights for all citizens. We look forward to the day that all Americans may legally marry the person they love.

We’ll be blogging throughout the day on yesterday’s events and their implication for LGBT rights in New England and across the nation.