Maine Event

Yesterday, voters in Maine voted to strip marriage rights from gays and lesbians, which had been granted by the passage of a law in May. Maine's version of California's woeful Proposition 8, which rejected gay marriage in last year's general election, was backed by the usual suspects, including the National Organization for Marriage, of the infamous "Gathering Storm" ad. Pretty pathetic.

It's time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The notion that this crucial civil rights issue should be left to the voters of each state to decide is ludicrous. What would have happened if we had allowed each state to decide when to grant civil rights to blacks? If there had been no Civil Rights Act?

Maybe someone can explain to me - slowly and using small words, because I'm a bit dim - how this is different? DOMA, and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" with it, enshrined prejudice in law. It's time to move on and grant to LGBT people the equality they are owed under our Constitution. If some people in the country don't like it, tough. Change is hard, but this change is inevitable, so we might as well get used to it, and get on with it.

Allowing gays and lesbians to marry under civil law will strengthen families, not weaken them. It will help children, not harm them. It will have no impact on religious freedom in the U.S. whatsoever. To oppose these civil rights is to be an opponent of civil rights, period. It is shameful, it is irrational, it is wrong.