Comments on: Marriage Equality Wins In All Four States!

By: Secret Advocate

Secret Advocate — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 21:36:43 +0000

F Young is correct about Minnesota.

Another great victory last night was that the Democrats (called the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party, or DFL, in Minnesota) re-took control of both houses of the Minnesota state legislature. (The reason why the anti-gay marriage amendment was on the ballot this year in Minnesota was that the state legislature unexpectedly flipped Republican in the 2010 “red tide” election, and Minnesota is one of 10 states in which only a simple majority of both houses of the state legislature is needed to send a proposed constitutional amendment to the voters.)

Now, with the DFL in control of the legislature and with Mark Dayton as the governor, Minnesota may actually get marriage equality soon. The vote on the amendment yesterday was a “mandate” in the literal sense of the term.

After all, the proponents of the amendment kept saying that “the people” should decide the issue. Well, now the people have spoken. It will be interesting to see how the NOM and its ilk try to argue that the people now should not be heard.

By: F Young

F Young — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 20:34:40 +0000

@Marc Cross
“What am I missing?”

How about New Jersey, Minnessota and Hawaii?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:13:17 +0000

Ooh, Iowa Democrats kept control of their senate! This means no vote on getting rid of marriage equality there! Damn, this is a good day!

By: Mark Cross

Mark Cross — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:10:58 +0000

…and RI!

By: Mark Cross

Mark Cross — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:10:19 +0000

I wanted to add how pleasantly surprised I am that we won in ALL 4 states. I expected more of a mixed bag. Next, CA, DE IL and ultimately DOMA right? What am I missing?

By: Mark Cross

Mark Cross — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:03:53 +0000

John I’ve smoked it a few times with friends and family, but it’s certainly not a daily, or even a yearly habit. I rarely drink either, but it’s a moral issue. People should be free to live their lives as they see fit, enjoy their freedom, take responsibility for their choices, and love who they want to love.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:02:11 +0000

The Supreme Court justice in IA also survived his recall attempt. The only had news is that Steven Saland lost in NY. NOM is crowing about it, which is kinda hilarious, since he lost to a pro-gay marriage Democrat. I guess that’s what passes for a victory for NOM these days…

By: JohnAGJ

JohnAGJ — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:59:02 +0000

Good for you, Mark. I can’t say that I fully embrace libertarianism, but I’ve seen the light so to speak when it comes to social issues at least. I’m tired of nanny-statism from the Left AND the Right. As for the wins on pot, I was pleased to hear about those too. I always get funny looks when I say this, especially since I honestly have never tried it and beyond a mild curiosity about pot really don’t want to, but I do believe it’s a personal choice matter that government should butt out of. I see little difference between alcohol and pot. It makes no sense to me the arguments about criminalizing one while the other is perfectly legal. Seems to me that folks should be free to decide for themselves if they want to imbibe or toke a few on their own. Legalize it, regulate it and tax it is what I say.

By: Mark Cross

Mark Cross — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:46:24 +0000

John, I also voted Libertarian, but I’ve done that for the last 20 years. I’m so proud of Obama’s “evolution” — and America’s evolution — on marriage equality. Libertarians have been pro-legalization of adult consensual relations since their inception. AND now ya can light up in WA, CO, and Detroit! Woo hoo!

By: The Lauderdale

The Lauderdale — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 16:34:49 +0000

“Voters in Minnesota rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, making Minnesota the first state to do so since 2006, when Arizona voters rejected a similar ban.”

Okay, thanks for that. I saw a couple of news articles saying that Minnesota was the first state EVER to do this, and I was like, “What about Arizona?” I hadn’t gone it to verify it yet, though, so thanks for mentioning it here.