Last year on election day, California voted “yes” on Proposition 8 which revoked the state law that made same-sex marriage legal. This year, Maine became the forefront of this year’s election with Question 1, which also gave residents the option to revoke the same sex marriage law that was passed earlier this year on May 6.
Maine’s same-sex marriage law was also revoked when decided by the public. Now, the only states that perform same-sex marriage are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont and starting in January 2010, New Hampshire. Which states could be next to legalize gay marriage?
“Oregon is well-known for Portland, which is a melting pot of cultures, subcultures, and lifestyles all it's own,” said Bethany Duerr, “I think that if Portland becomes pro-gay marriage, it would definitely influence the rest of the state. I think it is also possible that random mid-west states could legalize gay marriage - we don't give those states a lot of attention or credit.”
Rosie Grabowska agrees, “Madison could be next, maybe even Kansas City.” Grabowska also feels that cities like Savannah and Atlanta, GA or Baltimore, MD could spark some debate on the issue. “These are not your average American cities,” Grabowska said, “These are collision sites for two very passionate ways of thought.”
Luanne Morse feels that Arizona might be an important state to watch during this debate. “Arizona is a traditionally conservative state. If a state like that legalizes gay marriage, it might change the movement all together.”
With New Hampshire being the next state to be in the spotlight, people are wondering if this state will revoke their same-sex marriage law in the end also. “New Hampshire is an interesting state,” Morse said, “because it is in some ways both a liberal and conservative state and they do not like their lives being medaled with. Outcomes for major national elections have been predicted according to how New Hampshire votes, it's always been a state to watch in regards to politics. It's going to be a really good indicator of how much the tide has turned. New Hampshire will be really interesting and show us where it's going.”
Jeff McGrath also feels that like Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, they will remain a state that keeps same-sex marriage legalized. “New Hampshire politically was blue during last year's election and the outcome for this issue will be blue too, I think.” Deana Stuart agrees, "I think New Hampshire has been mostly a blue state in recent years and especially concerning this issue, blue states will be focused on first."
Claire Mork believes that until California lifts their ban on gay marriage, no progress will be made. “Once a more populated state like California or Florida passes laws, the more others will feel inclined to vote and get involved with this issue,” Mork said.
People are wondering how activists for gay marriage will change their strategy to protect these right for homosexuals. Jessica Manna feels that the public needs to be more educated before they vote. “Infomercials are entirely too mesmerizing and could be helpful. At the same time, just having more pamphlets available, random websites that send out mass e-mails could be very useful to these activists,” Manna said. “And in less common places too - for example, have some pamphlets at the Mall, not just in the voting booth.”
“The more time that goes by, the more willing people will be to legalize same-sex marriage,” McGrath said, “that's the only things activists can do at this point.”
Same-sex marriage continues to be an issue and whether people are for or against it, it's apparent and the movement is emerging in New England. More of these questions will be answered next year when New Hampshire legalizes same-sex marriage and possibly more states to come within the next year.
“People can be very sensitive and passionate about this issue,” Morse said, “but I can only hope that people eventually will see the human aspect of this. It's about people creating a family and in turn needing the same benefits as their neighbors and all that is entailed with having a legal marriage.”
Comments
Good points! I think that once California and New York legalize it for good, nothing else is going to get accomplished.
Proposition 8 will die on 1-11-2010 @ 8:30 AM at it's first federal trial. The case is Perry v. Schwarzenegger. New Hampshire is the next state to begin marriage equality. Try as the bigots might, they will not derail NH's practice of equality! Wait and see.
That's right, FlexSF! Can't wait for it. 2010 will be an interesting year for same-sex marriage.
Kudos to CT on the one year anniversary of its marriage equality law.
Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.
On December 1 — World AIDS Remembrance Day — Virtual Galt and Liberty For Maine will be releasing a report on the state-by-state probability of adoption of marriage equality.
The report is based on proprietary research on the detailed results of three public statewide votes on the issue in California, Maine and Washington state. Because the same demographic variables correlated to results in all three states, the analysis was extended to all states and the District of Columbia, and overall probabilities established.
According to the report, the three states most likely to pass marriage equality in the near future are Hawaii, Colorado and New Jersey. California ranked 10th, and Maine ranked 24th.
I think the main problem with this is that people do not differentiate between a LEGAL marriage and a RELIGIOUS marriage. A religious marriage is a union between two people (whether heterosexual or homosexual depends on the religion) under God (or whatever deity/deities the religion recognizes).
A legal marriage is one that is recognized by the government. This is what is up for debate. I think in this debate their should be more clarity between the two. What seems to scare religious people is if their charge would be eventually forced to preform homosexual marriage even if it is against their doctrine, or face discrimination charges. Of course there are those holier than thous who would be against it regardless.
In 5 years, Gay Marriage will be legal Nation wide.
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