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On Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:16:49 +0100, Rising Sun <...@mediascum.cbs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2009/11/03/AR2009110302576.html?hpid=topnews
PORTLAND, Maine -- Gay marriage is losing by a slim margin in a
closely watched referendum in Maine.
With 417 of 608 precincts reporting, 52 percent were opposed to
same-sex marriage and 48 percent were in favor.
The voters are deciding whether to repeal or affirm a state law
that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the
Maine Legislature in May but never took effect because of a
petition drive by conservatives.
Gay marriage has never won at the ballot box in any state. A
victory for the gay-rights side could energize activists
nationwide and blunt conservative claims that same-sex marriage
is being foisted on states by judges or lawmakers over the will
of the public.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further
information. AP's earlier story is below.
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Gay marriage was put to a vote in Maine
on Tuesday in a closely watched referendum that gay-rights
activists across the country hoped would prove for the first
time that their cause can prevail at the ballot box.
Voters had to decide whether to repeal or affirm a state law
that would allow gay couples to wed. The law was passed by the
Legislature in May but never took effect because of a petition
drive by conservatives.
Early returns showed a close contest, as forecast. With 229 of
608 precincts reporting, each side had 50 percent.
A vote to uphold the law would mark the first time that the
electorate in any state endorsed gay marriage. That could
energize activists nationwide and blunt conservative claims that
same-sex marriage is being foisted on states by judges or
lawmakers over the will of the public.
However, repeal - in New England, the region of the country most
supportive of gay couples - would be another heartbreaking
defeat for the marriage-equality movement, following the vote
against gay marriage in California a year ago.
It would also mark the first time voters had torpedoed a gay-
marriage law enacted by a legislature. When Californians
rejected same-sex marriage, it was in response to a court
ruling, not legislation.
Maine's secretary of state, Matthew Dunlap, said turnout seemed
higher than expected for an off-year election and voter interest
appeared intense. Even before Tuesday, more than 100,000 people -
out of about 1 million registered voters - had voted by
absentee ballot or early voting.
Five other states have legalized gay marriage - Iowa,
Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Connecticut - but all
did so through legislation or court rulings, not by popular
vote. In contrast, constitutional amendments banning gay
marriage have been approved in all 30 states where they have
been on the ballot.
"If we don't win, then Maine will have its place in infamy
because no state has ever voted for homosexual marriage," said
Chuck Schott of Portland, who stood near a polling place in
Maine's biggest city with a pro-repeal campaign sign.
Another Portland resident, Sarah Holman said she was "very torn"
but decided - despite her conservative upbringing - to vote in
favor of letting gays marry.
"They love and they have the right to love. And we can't tell
somebody how to love," said Holman, 26.
Hundreds of gay-marriage supporters gathered in a Portland hotel
ballroom in the evening to await the results. On display was a
three-tiered wedding cake topped with two grooms on one side,
two brides on the other, and the words "We All Do."
In addition to reaching out to young people who flocked to the
polls for President Barack Obama a year ago, gay-marriage
defenders tried to appeal to Maine voters' independent streak -
a Yankee spirit of fairness and live-and-let-live.
The other side based many of its campaign ads on claims -
disputed by state officials - that the new law would mean
"homosexual marriage" would be taught in public schools.
Both sides in Maine drew volunteers and contributions from out
of state, but the money edge went to the campaign in defense of
gay marriage, Protect Maine Equality. It raised $4 million,
compared with $2.5 million for Stand for Marriage Maine.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, voters in Washington state decided whether
to uphold or overturn a recently expanded domestic partnership
law that entitles same-sex couples to the same state-granted
rights as heterosexual married couples. And in Kalamazoo, Mich.,
voters approved a measure that bars discrimination based on
sexual orientation.
Among other ballot items across the country:
- Maine voters defeated a measure that would have limited state
and local government spending by holding it to the rate of
inflation plus population growth. A similar measure was on the
ballot in Washington state.
- Another measure in Maine, headed for approval, would allow
dispensaries to supply marijuana to patients for medicinal
purposes. It is a follow-up to a 1999 measure that legalized
medical marijuana but did not set up a distribution system.
- In Ohio, partial results were too close to call on a measure
that would allow casinos in four major cities: Cleveland,
Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo.
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