And Now, Sadly, There are 31

Maine, too, has joined 30 other states where the idea that some of our tax-paying, U.S. citizens should be able to marry is just not acceptable enough to the majority of voters. This is the case comes despite the hope that earlier polls, a legislative (not Court-ruled) vote and fact that the vote took place in Maine -- in the most supportive, equality-minded part of the country.

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/128048.html

Sadly, the "winners" report that they have protected the institution of marriage, again characterizing gay couples as attacking or destroying the institution. The reality is, Maine voted to leave some couples without the protection of marriage.

Interestingly, fear-based arguments that traditional marriage will be destroyed by this change are still ruling the day. Among them, from Stand For Marriage Maine:

1) Gay marriage will be pushed on Maine students -- the ad featured on their site. Of course, there is no requirement for this whatsoever, so it's more fear-mongering. This same technique helped drive the nail in the coffin of marriage equality in California with Prop 8.

2) Yes on 1 campaign on its website says, “

Maine’s long-standing statute defines marriage as being the union of one man and one woman joined in traditional monogamous marriage and an institution of inestimable value to society. Current law says that Maine has a compelling interest to nurture and promote the unique institution of traditional monogamous marriage in the support of harmonious families and the physical and mental health of children and that the State has the compelling interest in promoting the moral values inherent in traditional monogamous marriage.”

Of course, there is no logic or evidence to support the argument that adding another group to the conservative institution of marriage will in any way weaken the institution, nor that excluding one group will destroy it. Check earlier postings with links to several professional associations who have done real, scientific research to refute these fear (not fact) based arguments. And a new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA shows that gay and straight couples are quite similar.

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc2=news&sc3=&id=98527

If marriage is good for straights, it should be good for gays too. The burden of proof needs to shift to those who make these un-founded claims and insinuate that children will be at risk if raised by two loving parents, regardless of their gender. In time, history will reveal the truth. For now, people are not ready for it.

Unfortunately, it will take a lot of time (and persuasive, truth-based arguments) to unravel the mess that fear has created. And it will take a lot of patience and love...