Protect Maine Equality

[islandsmoke]

As some of you are aware, back in May the Maine Legislature passed a bill, that the Governor then signed into law, allowing same-sex marriage. Since then, Stand For Marriage Maine formed. Using a lot of out of state money, they hired professional signature gatherers (of dubious integrity) to collect the needed signatures to set a People's Veto in

Comments

[snegurochka_lee]

UGH. I cannot believe they keep doing this. :(( Thanks for the links.

And welcome back!

[islandsmoke]

Several of the people who stopped at the "No on 1" table to find out what we were about asked, "Didn't we settle this already?" (They were thinking of the "No on 1/ Maine Won't Discriminate" campaign in 2005, or of the fact that this was signed into law in May.) People are getting sick and tired of going over much the same issue again and again. And there is a bill going to be introduced in New Hampshire after the first of the year to ban same sex marriage - which starts in NH the first of the year. A win in Maine will make a huge difference in all states, I'm thinkin'.

♥!

[busaikko]

I've mailed the people at Maine Equality, but just wanted to let you know they've got a bit of a problem with their form: it won't let people with foreign addresses fill it out. I've put in a support request *g* (Also, not sure why they need employment information? is that because donations are charitable and a US tax break?) Also, recalling a lot of the Prop 8 discussions, a question for you: I watched all their ads, and Maine looks really, really white (as in, one Asian lesbian is the only non-white I spotted). I honestly can't recally what the Maine ethnic mix is: is Maine really that white? (I dug people's accents, though, and the whole 'those damn outsiders!' line).

[busaikko]

Oh! And welcome back! I'm glad that the computer didn't suffer any drastic losses, and that you're back online!

[islandsmoke]

♥♥♥!

[islandsmoke]

I didn't think about foreign addresses and the fact that the form might not accept them. Damn. I'll email them as well

[magnetic_pole]

I'm going to second Lee's "UGH." God, I hope we don't have to do this too many times--perhaps a loss in Maine will sour the right on expensive campaigns like this one? Just made contribution, hope it helps! M.

[islandsmoke]

Aw, thanks Maggie. NOM is putting a lot of money into this, and other campaigns. No one seems quite sure where that money comes from, and in spite of the law they are managing to not hand over their 501 tax form to any who request it. They are currently under investigation in Maine, and I believe Iowa and California as well, for violating fund raising/donation laws. If they could be shut down, it would make a huge difference. Unless they are, as some believe, a front for the Mormon church, in which case they would just be reborn with a different name. It's such an incredible waste of resources. Mainers don't have a lot of extra money gathering dust, but many of them are feeling compelled to fight this with whatever they can. It sucks, it's stupid, and the majority shouldn't be allowed to vote on the civil rights of a minority anyway. If the feds stepped in and made it the law of the land, this would end. At least on a state level.

{{{hugs}}}