Maine News Updates

Our state reps DO NOT know what is best for me. They also DO NOT know what's best for Maine, which has been proven repeatedly. A proposal of gay marriage should be a referendum decided by Maine voters. Interesting tid bit: Some gay couples want children. Funny thing they'll need a member of the opposite sex. Imagine that. God brought forth a man and a woman. To procreate. Can't do it with same sex couples. Marriage is sacred and instituted by God. You don't NEED to be married to have access to your partner's medical history updates, etc You grant your partner or whomever written permission. Marriage doesn't even guarantee that with heterosexual couples.

I dunno. Marriage has historically been part of a religious ceremony and (for quite some time) as well as a function legalized by any justice of the peace. I mean, what's the problem with civil unions which (rightly) legalize the rights of same-sex partners in matters of inheritance, insurance, hospital and end of life matters, among other rights? It seems to be a matter of the word. "Marriage" has a positive cultural and social connotation. "Civil Union"  can sound pretty cold and legalistic. Is that it?
Is the institution of marriage threatened by gay marriage?   I don't quite see it as threatening.
Now, would everyone just feel better if the state acknowledged any marriage as a " civil union"? Everyone could have an official 'marriage" in their church. After all, everyone who is born has a birth certificate. Baptism is a matter of belief. I have never heard people clamoring for everyone to be called Baptised. How is this different?

Let's clarify something...this isn't voting on "gay marriage." That would imply that a separate institution for gay people is being created. Rather, gays are being allowed access to the benefits of CIVIL marriage that heterosexuals already have. For those who think gays are trying to get "special rights," to me it looks like the heterosexuals have the special rights, being that gays are not currently allowed the same rights. Let's also be clear that we are not CREATING gay families here. Gay families exist. That's not debatable. So what is really happening is that gay tax-paying citizens will get the same civil protections allowed to heterosexual citizens. Religious institutions will still be allowed to exclude gays if they so choose. I thank the Senators who voted yes. They are on the right side of history today. Some day I will be proud to tell my one year old that some people weren't afraid to stand up for what was right. The rights of citizens should not be left up to majority vote. IF we did that, we'd still have the original "traditional" marriage, wherein women were property, wouldn't be allowed to vote. For everyone who opposed this, I ask you to refocus your energy on actually helping people and making this world a better, less hateful place. Why spend so much time and effort to keep others down?

how can i find out how my senator voted?

Nice. Maine voters will reinforce this decision soon enough.

I just need to zone out the whining and nonsense from the delusional minority on this issue until this fall.

Nice job. As for going out to the voters. Equal protection under the law isn't a matterof opinion nor ought it be up to who gets the most people to the polls. The Senators (and I assume the Representatives will follow) did the job they were elected to do. No need to hide behind the safety (and expense) of a popular election.

Nice job. As for going out to the voters. Equal protection under the law isn't a matterof opinion nor ought it be up to who gets the most people to the polls. The Senators (and I assume the Representatives will follow) did the job they were elected to do. No need to hide behind the safety (and expense) of a popular election.

God has spoken through the Maine State Senate. Thanks God.

Why is there such an uproar about same sex marriage in the first place?" The Church does not own the institution of marriage. It is a state institution aimed at controlling the populace. If the Church doesn't like it, don't offer religious services.

I don't envy the couples who will now find themselves legally bound to another person- and responsible for their debts, but it is about time we acted responsbily and let gays get maried

Hooray! Thank you Senators!!!!!!!!

Great victory for all Mainers. Recent polls show a 10% shift toward support for gay marriage throughout the country. All the BS from the other side has proved to be just that. In a few years, this will be a "duh" issue like interracial marriage is now. Now call the Governor and demand he sign the bill.

Oh, didn't you hear? The legislature banned Michael Heath from Maine. They banned all idiots, actually. How did you get in here?

Today is a good day, but there is still work to be done, this is a great step in the right direction, much gratitude to our senators, and everyone who is putting up the good fight.

I doubt Jesus will come down from the clouds and start smiting everyone. He hung out with prostitutes and lepers, for goodness' sake! I think he's smiling down at us right now...

another step closer to hell, the next step is to out law marriage between two of the same sex

We do indeed live in the dark corner of the US. Michael Heath where are you when we need you!

I said, when Obama was elected....I never expected to live to see the day.................; I feel the same today. Justice shall indeed flow down like a mighty stream....and Goodness and Mercy is evident in my chosen State of Maine!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are 20 sick people in the senate

Sick.

Out of 35 votes it was five from not passing. That is shockingly close. I want to join the chorus of people on here thanking the Senators for voting against gay marriage. It passed in the Senate but not by nearly as much as I thought it would. More people in Maine and in every other state are against this than for it.

Most people realize that there are no laws that stop with one vote. Look at the increasing teeth in seat belt laws for example. Just a few years ago Maine voted by a thin majority to allow equal rights (special rights) for homosexuals. They already had equal rights by the way. That law was clear to exclude gay marriage because people didn't want it. Now here we are a few years later voting on gay marriage. A few more years and we will be forcing churches to perform gay weddings. A few more years after that and we will be (through courts) suing churches to get them to close. This bill isn't about inclusion. It is about exclusion. It is one step in an agenda to cleanse this country of a certain type of person. It is about the bigotry and hatred by the left and trying to outlaw people who might have the audacity to think anything differently. It is step by step, little by little. It isn't going to happen. It is happening. It will be our destruction as a great nation and eventually our society all together. These gay marriage bills are just one cog. Study a little history. This movie has played before several times.

What standard do you use to decide what's moral? Who's system of morality should we teach? Congress is currently considering a bill concerning gay hate laws. It has been amended in committee to include pedophiles. One could conceivably end up with jail time or a fine for speaking out against pedophilia as this would constitute a hate crime. Again. What standard and who's system?

Awesome day for gays everywhere! Sorry haters, we're not going away!

Well at least we have 20 Senators who don't discriminate

Great news! Makes me proud to be a Mainer.

Thank you Senators ! You did the right thing!!!

Where's the petition? This belonged to the voters. Guaranteed repeal by Maine voters.

Thank you Senators!!

Almost there!