Friday, May 08, 2009

Opponents challenging new Maine gay marriage law


AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Couples anxious to wed under Maine's new gay marriage law may have a long wait.A formal challenge to it has been filed, setting into motion plans for a possible public vote that could be months or more than a year away."We're very disappointed," said Steve Ryan of Buxton, who was looking forward to the new law with his partner, Jim Bishop. "We plan to get married as soon as we can. This is going to put our whole life on hold."Activists on both sides Thursday started working up strategies for campaigns leading up to a possible November referendum under a state constitutional provision known as the people's veto."The wheels are turning," Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap, Maine's chief election official, said after opponents filed an application that sets the stage for the challenge process ahead.

I will dare to predict; this ain't gonna work.

5 comments:

* said...

There is just no logical reason why people should have to wait up until a year to get married.

Let them get hitched already...they've waited long enough.

Geez. Crazy life.

John Hosty said...

We are going to be schooling EQMaine in "truth squading". This is where we have a number to call when you see a petition gatherer and we race down there to make sure they are not stealing people's signatures like they did in MA back in 2005.

This time we will be ready.

Kim said...

At this time Out In Wisconsin is looking for two new directors to fill positions that are needed. These are volunteer positions, meaning you won't be paid for your services. Things directors would be expected to do are bring up ideas and sign paperwork confirming what was discussed on any decisions that were made on what the organization is doing. You must not have been convicted of a felony and you should be known by at least one of our directors or myself for at least the past three months upon contacting me. One more thing I'm sure you already know, you must be over the age of 18 to participate.

Out In Wisconsin is committed to equality and justice for all LGBT citizens and has filed as a non-profit incorporation in Wisconsin and was approved in March 2009. But the newly found organization cannot survive without people like yourselves to help run it, share ideas, and gather donations. At this time no donations are being gathered until such time as I say.

Some people who have signed up in the past are concerned for their safety or because it has taken on more of a religious base between the blog and website. Many LGBT deal with safety issues on a daily basis. We also deal with religious issues to do with right wing fenatics. This must be understood and should have been understood from the very beginning.

I need your help to succeed. People who sign up must be determined, strong willed, focused on the task at hand, willing to go that extra mile for our people, and most importantly they must be willing to be in it for the long haul. You must be dependable.You can contact me through my website at http://www.outinwisconsin.org

Anonymous said...

In California we are waiting for the State Supreme Court to announce its decision re: prop 8 - any day now. I'm trying to stay hopeful but preparations are also underway for a new ballot measure to remove prop 8 - just in case.

I'm hoping with all my might that the Maine LGBT community doesn't have to go through that, as well. Positive thoughts and hopes. :)

John Hosty said...

We should keep an eye out for people interested in helping Kim get things going for OutInWisconsin.org. It's a great idea but all great ideas need people to make them work.

I think we will see things in Maine get as ugly as they did in Massachusetts with the petition. They even repealed a law a few years ago that banned people from being paid per the signature, which was the primary motivation for the fraud that happened in MA.