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Bypassing huge opportunities for theatrics and cowardice, Maine's Gov. John Baldacci took his pen to the same-sex marriage bill this afternoon. Within a half hour of receiving the bill (LD 1020), he made it law.
With so many, including the sitting President, cowardly about the fairness and equality and hiding behind, "Duh, well, I always heard in church that marriage was between one man and one woman," Baldacci tore the rag off the bush.
He said:
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.
This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs,. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of church and state.
It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine’s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government.
There may still be an effort for a plebiscite by the dirty nasty sore losers. I wish them failure in trying to get over 55,000 Mainers to sign for a vote in November. Short of that, they are bound to see that a majority of their peers wants strong marriages and equal rights.
~Mike (masssmarrier)