Comments on: It’s on in Maine http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354 News, analysis and fact-checking of anti-gay rhetoric Thu, 23 May 2013 12:09:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Priya Lynn http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118373 Priya Lynn Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:56:33 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118373 AAron said "I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights.". Mark asked "More uncomfortable than a legislative body or a judicial panel?". Yes. AAron said “I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights.”.

Mark asked “More uncomfortable than a legislative body or a judicial panel?”.

Yes.

]]> By: Mary http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118370 Mary Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:24:02 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118370 LIke Ben, I was concerned with the content of some of the pro marriage TV ads I saw. The ads seemed to rely to heavily on "the gays are respectable middle class folks." They seemed designed to appeal to the southern coastal communities that already support same sex marriage. Maine has a lot of poor people, working class people, and old people. Ads need to talk to these people and make a case for why they should support marriage. I suspect many of these folks were turned off by ads that seemed to show that people who already have everything (aka money) want "special rights." Too many of the gay people featured in the TV spots looked like summer people. LIke Ben, I was concerned with the content of some of the pro marriage TV ads I saw. The ads seemed to rely to heavily on “the gays are respectable middle class folks.” They seemed designed to appeal to the southern coastal communities that already support same sex marriage. Maine has a lot of poor people, working class people, and old people. Ads need to talk to these people and make a case for why they should support marriage. I suspect many of these folks were turned off by ads that seemed to show that people who already have everything (aka money) want “special rights.” Too many of the gay people featured in the TV spots looked like summer people.

]]> By: Mark F. http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118320 Mark F. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:39:35 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118320 "I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights." More uncomfortable than a legislative body or a judicial panel? Face it, someone is going to have to vote on it. That's just how it is. “I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights.”

More uncomfortable than a legislative body or a judicial panel? Face it, someone is going to have to vote on it. That’s just how it is.

]]> By: Ben In Oakland http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118318 Ben In Oakland Fri, 24 Feb 2012 20:10:21 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118318 Timothy, I should add with Reed that you said in much expanded form what i bwas saying. I wholeheartedly agree. Timothy, I should add with Reed that you said in much expanded form what i bwas saying. I wholeheartedly agree.

]]> By: Reed http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118301 Reed Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:04:56 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118301 Timothy - Your commentary about "a unique opportunity, one we have never considered" and "We’ve never asked them to rise up and act as a community of believers on the commandments of God to live with justice and mercy . . ?" Well, gosh . . . this part of "we" has been asking (nicely, until I gave up 'nice' for Lent one year - and firmly, politely, pleadingly, and pleasanter variations of request) for days and weeks and months and years now. And it has been based very much on "After the Ball" (yes, a long, long, time ago, in a publishing world far away) - with facts backing an emotional appeal to the moral issue of equality. However, sweeping editorial "we's" and "nevers" aside, I DO entirely agree with your personal statement: that now IS the right time. And Ryan - thank you for raising one of my favorite points: the right to free exercise of religion in performing marriage rights (or not) should not be dictated by government (nor should "some religions be more equal than other religions" in this particular Animal Farm). Timothy –

Your commentary about “a unique opportunity, one we have never considered” and “We’ve never asked them to rise up and act as a community of believers on the commandments of God to live with justice and mercy . . ?”

Well, gosh . . . this part of “we” has been asking (nicely, until I gave up ‘nice’ for Lent one year – and firmly, politely, pleadingly, and pleasanter variations of request) for days and weeks and months and years now. And it has been based very much on “After the Ball” (yes, a long, long, time ago, in a publishing world far away) – with facts backing an emotional appeal to the moral issue of equality.

However, sweeping editorial “we’s” and “nevers” aside, I DO entirely agree with your personal statement: that now IS the right time.

And Ryan – thank you for raising one of my favorite points: the right to free exercise of religion in performing marriage rights (or not) should not be dictated by government (nor should “some religions be more equal than other religions” in this particular Animal Farm).

]]> By: Claire http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118291 Claire Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:12:48 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118291 I went door to door in northern Maine on question 1 last time. Living in Maine these past few years(as well as the vast majority of my life), I have watched the general climate change regarding this issue. Also, with the documentary, Question One, were were able to get some very interesting and compelling footage, that I dearly hope finds its way onto our televisions this fall. http://youtu.be/ADqimp6QU2o and an actual trailer: http://youtu.be/0Qc2fwGNLv4 With how close it came last time, taking into account the climate change on this issue, I'm very hopeful. On the issue of the public voting on a minority's rights, I agree with Aaron, it makes me uncomfortable. However, if we can win in the ballot box at just one state, it changes a great deal of the dialogue. Marriage equality is no longer being 'forced on states by legislatures and judges' it becomes the choice of a population in one of our 50 states. That is as powerful as it is compelling. Now, once we get this whole marriage thing sorted out, can we please work more on a gender identity inclusive ENDA? As a transgendered lesbian, I would really appreciate it. Given that I'm legally male still, I can marry my partner right now, but I'm working on this for our larger community. It would be very nice of all you GLBs out there to reciprocate. Please. I went door to door in northern Maine on question 1 last time. Living in Maine these past few years(as well as the vast majority of my life), I have watched the general climate change regarding this issue.

Also, with the documentary, Question One, were were able to get some very interesting and compelling footage, that I dearly hope finds its way onto our televisions this fall.

http://youtu.be/ADqimp6QU2o
and an actual trailer:
http://youtu.be/0Qc2fwGNLv4

With how close it came last time, taking into account the climate change on this issue, I’m very hopeful.

On the issue of the public voting on a minority’s rights, I agree with Aaron, it makes me uncomfortable. However, if we can win in the ballot box at just one state, it changes a great deal of the dialogue. Marriage equality is no longer being ‘forced on states by legislatures and judges’ it becomes the choice of a population in one of our 50 states. That is as powerful as it is compelling.

Now, once we get this whole marriage thing sorted out, can we please work more on a gender identity inclusive ENDA? As a transgendered lesbian, I would really appreciate it. Given that I’m legally male still, I can marry my partner right now, but I’m working on this for our larger community. It would be very nice of all you GLBs out there to reciprocate.

Please.

]]> By: Jay Jonson http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118287 Jay Jonson Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:37:43 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118287 Don't forget the votes on constitutional amendments in North Carolina in May and Minnesota in November. The North Carolina election has been rigged by the Republicans to coincide with the Republican presidential primary, and we probably have no chance to win with all the wing-nuts coming out to vote, but we do have a good chance in Minnesota. Don’t forget the votes on constitutional amendments in North Carolina in May and Minnesota in November. The North Carolina election has been rigged by the Republicans to coincide with the Republican presidential primary, and we probably have no chance to win with all the wing-nuts coming out to vote, but we do have a good chance in Minnesota.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118273 Ryan Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:42:33 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118273 This is going to be a very nerve wracking election. In addition to Maine, we'll likely have our rights put up to a vote in Washington and Maryland, too. Plus, Romney, Santorum and Gingrich have all sworn to fight us every step of the way towards equality. We could lose very big or win very big. I believe Timothy is right. The ads should feature religious leaders arguing that their rights to perform the marriages they want are being taken away. And of course, their should be gay couples and families. Lots of them. This is going to be a very nerve wracking election. In addition to Maine, we’ll likely have our rights put up to a vote in Washington and Maryland, too. Plus, Romney, Santorum and Gingrich have all sworn to fight us every step of the way towards equality. We could lose very big or win very big. I believe Timothy is right. The ads should feature religious leaders arguing that their rights to perform the marriages they want are being taken away. And of course, their should be gay couples and families. Lots of them.

]]> By: tristram http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118263 tristram Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:57:39 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118263 The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church is doubling down on its anti-gay (and generally socially/sexually regressive) policies nationwide. As happened last time around in Maine, they will say whatever they have to say (however scurrilous it might be) and spend whatever they have to spend to defeat marriage equality. And unfortunately they still have enough influence (not credibility, but influence) in Maine to make it work. The hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church is doubling down on its anti-gay (and generally socially/sexually regressive) policies nationwide. As happened last time around in Maine, they will say whatever they have to say (however scurrilous it might be) and spend whatever they have to spend to defeat marriage equality. And unfortunately they still have enough influence (not credibility, but influence) in Maine to make it work.

]]> By: Aaron http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2012/02/23/42354/comment-page-1#comment-118262 Aaron Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:42:57 +0000 http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=42354#comment-118262 Mreh, I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights. Mreh, I still feel entirely uncomfortable with the people voting on my rights.

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