same-sex marriage signed into law in maine

[piranha]

progress marches on in new england. the bill passed relatively smoothly through the legislature, but conservative groups are arming for a ballot initiative in november's elections.

governor baldacci was previously opposed to same-sex marriage, but said his own views evolved over time:

"I did not come to this decision lightly or in haste. 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."

matthew daly has some very good thoughts on why this is actually better than california and new york leading the way.

Comments

[katieastrophe]

Would it be awfully picky of me to say that it's not gay marriage but same-sex marriage that has been legalised?

[djm4]

As you note on his post, one reason it's better than California leading the way is that they haven't. In fact, they've been one of a tiny number of places in the world (can't immediately think of another, but there probably is one) to have retreated on this one, and by popular vote. What the good blue-blooded Democrats of California have told everyone, in fact, is 'don't panic if your legislature tries to impose same=sex marriage on you, you can always overturn it in a referendum, because it's not really supported by the people'.