No on Maine Question 1

The Bangor Daily News ran an editorial yesterday on the ballot question #1 in favor defeating the ballot question.

I have been asked why I support defeating the ballot question; doesn’t the domestic partnership law give all the same rights as marriage? That is an easy questions to answer… I believe in equality. Separate but equal was wrong in civil rights and it is wrong for marriage. My main objection is when someone is asked “married, single, divorced, widowed or domestic partnership” and they answer domestic partnership. They just “Outed” themselves as being homosexual. If that is not discrimination, then I do know what is. Segregation is wrong whether it is what bathroom to use or how you define marriage.

Some people say that marriage is a religious institution, they are wrong; it is both religious and civil. This bill has clauses writing in to it that allows religious institution to be exempt from marrying or recognizing same-sex couples. Others say change the laws and make all civil marriages domestic partnership and I say fine, then pick up the phone and call you legislator and tell them to introduced a bill to do that, and lobby for the bill. However, don’t penalize gays because you are not willing to do that. It is either stand up for your beliefs or shut-up and vote “No” on question 1.

The Bangor Daily News writes,

While such debate is healthy, this question boils down to a simple point: Everyone must be treated equally under the state and U.S. Constitution. Denying civil marriage rights to same-sex couples violates that tenet.

The article then goes on to write about religious freedom,

The Maine legislation also took important steps, mirroring the state’s Human Rights Law, to respect religious freedom and traditions. No church will be compelled to perform or recognize marriages that run counter to its faith. This strikes the difficult balance of respecting religious freedom while ensuring equality.

The article said that when the governor was asked about the bill he said,

“It’s important to have your own faith and connection to God,” Gov. Baldacci, a Catholic, told The Associated Press recently. “At the same time, it isn’t just that faith that you’re the governor of. … You’re governor of all the people.”