Marriage Equality is now the law in Maine

by: Hopeful

Wed May 06, 2009 at 12:38:16 PM EDT

"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," Governor Baldacci said. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."

Some worry about religious freedom  The governor also addressed that concern:

"This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State," Governor Baldacci said.

"It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine?s civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government."

I continue to believe that this is an urgent matter for progressives to address this year.  I will work for Jon Corzine to be re-elected, but one simply cannot assume a man who is polling under 40% is going to win. A loss would mean that there is little chance that we would have a governor willing to sign marriage equality into law until 2014 and probably 2018.  

Update:  Find out below which three senators  Garden State Equality wants you to call today.

Moments ago on this Wednesday afternoon, Maine's Governor signed his state's marriage equality bill, making Maine the fifth U.S. state to give same-sex couples the freedom to marry.  This is an opportunity to call New Jersey legislators to get them to pass marriage equality.  Today we ask that you call the 3 New Jersey Senators listed below no matter where in New Jersey you may live.

When you call the 3 Senators listed below, here is our suggested message - and feel free to put this in your own words or say anything else that shows your passion for equality:

"Maine just enacted marriage equality today and that makes five other states ahead of New Jersey.   I support marriage equality and I want New Jersey to remain a national leader in civil rights.  I ask the Senator not only to support the marriage equality bill but also to fight hard for its passage."

Here are the 3 New Jersey Senators we ask you to call:

Senator John Girgenti at (973) 427-1229

Senator Brian Stack at (201) 861-5091

Senator Shirley Turner at (609) 530-3277

If you're told by the office you're not a constituent: "I'm calling your office because this is an issue of statewide impact, not just local, and as a New Jerseyan I care passionately."

If you hear anything substantive in your conversations - something beyond thank you or we'll record your views - let us know by emailing us at Contact@GardenStateEquality.org. Include which legislative office you spoke with, what the office said, as well as your own name and hometown.