Gay marriage at the ballot box next week: Maine's "Question 1" & Washington state

D_Ireonsyd_Colonrinse

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Yes, gay people's lives are about to be "voted on" again next week. -- In 2 states.


1.

On Tuesday, November 3, Maine voters go to the ballot box regarding whether or not to repeal gay marriage -- called "Question 1". This was legally passed via state legislature and a governor's signature.


Almost $3 million was raised to run negative ads (most of it centering on children; as in the little girl running home saying "Mommy. mommy, we read a story today where a prince marries a prince... and the teacher said someday I can marry a PRINCESS!"... CUT TO: Mommy's horrified reaction), and over half of this money was given by the National Organization for Marriage -- this is the group that tried to make an Anita Bryant-like spokesperson out of Miss California; and the group that spearheaded CA's "Yes on 8" campaign.


The California Prop 8 / Maine Question 1 "Echo Chamber":

YouTube - Yes on 1 Everything to do with children Echo Chamber


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2.

Washington state is also voting on Nov. 3 on "Referendum 71". The state legislature signed a comprehensive domestic partnership bill into law -- they call it the "everything but marriage" law; meaning, it's not called marriage and I thought that's what some conservatives wanted -- but enough signatures were collected to "vote" on whether domestic partnerships laws, which were legally passed in the first place, should be extended to s/s couples.


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Here's a cute parody of the National Organization for Marriage's commercial "The Gathering Storm":

YouTube - The Best Parody of NOM's "Gathering Storm" Ad

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Also: Some guy in CA, John Marcotte, is trying to collect enough signatures to get his "California Protection of Marriage Act" onto the ballot. I think it's a goof, but this ballot measure seeks to ban divorce. His argument is that divorce is a bigger threat to traditional marriage than gay marriage is. It'll be nice to see this actually get enough sigs to qualify.
 

Stephenmass

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I have not seen the article you speak of, but from how you explain it, it's almost as if they are saying that gays are RECRUITING kids at a young age. That's sick. The gay offensive should run ads back that refer to the same commercial and rebut it. I think the key is to rebut it "with class" that simply shows support and a "we are just like you" campaign. I would refer to the other commercial as simply a "smear" campaign, which is exactly what it is.
 

Pendlum

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I wish they would've sent my absentee ballot in the mail, I checked the damn box! I guess I'll have to find a ballot box to vote yes on Ref. 71. But first I'm going to have to read all the other stuff they are trying to pass so I can vote on everything. And not just the commercials.
 

MercyfulFate

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Gay marriage is a sin, and the worst thing that could happen to America right now. It must be stopped. Gays are turning our children gay and they ruin marriages!
I'm willing to bet someone doesn't see the inviso-text and snaps. I'll wait for the fun and show them what they missed at a later time.

For those that see this, don't spoil it!
 

B_VinylBoy

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I have not seen the article you speak of, but from how you explain it, it's almost as if they are saying that gays are RECRUITING kids at a young age. That's sick. The gay offensive should run ads back that refer to the same commercial and rebut it. I think the key is to rebut it "with class" that simply shows support and a "we are just like you" campaign. I would refer to the other commercial as simply a "smear" campaign, which is exactly what it is.

It's one of the oldest excuses in the book.
Many opponents of Gay marriage (or the gay lifestyle) like to paint this dooming picture of men going after children and coaxing them into having gay sex. It's beyond ludicrous. They still feel as if being gay, although being such an abomination, is still a choice. With that said, if it was so horrible then why would ANYONE choose to live this lifestyle?

With dignity we need to show people that we live lives similar as their own. Our wants and desires are just like anyone else's. At the same time, we're not exactly like them because if we were then we'd be marrying people of the opposite sex. The more we can strip down some of the negative labels and social taboos surrounding sex in general, the easier it will become for society to accept others for their differentiating sexual preferences.
 

jason_els

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I have not seen the article you speak of, but from how you explain it, it's almost as if they are saying that gays are RECRUITING kids at a young age. That's sick. The gay offensive should run ads back that refer to the same commercial and rebut it. I think the key is to rebut it "with class" that simply shows support and a "we are just like you" campaign. I would refer to the other commercial as simply a "smear" campaign, which is exactly what it is.

This canard has been around for ages, and one illustrated by the ridiculously-funny-if-it-weren't-so-sad mental hygiene film, Boys Beware from 1961 (which also equates pedophilia with homosexuality :mad:). It's one of the oldest ones out there and is usually promoted by conservative religious groups of various faiths. The reason they believe this is possible is because they also believe that being gay is somehow a choice and, if it's a choice, then it's a choice their children can make and gay people will be able to influence that choice. What's odd is that every time this argument has arisen I, most earnestly, ask the person putting it forth just how they struggled with the choice and decided to be straight because really, I didn't feel I had a choice. Perhaps if I knew how to choose to be straight, I too could be straight. It would certainly save me a lot of trouble and heartache. That question is always followed by some amount of verbal stumbling and a reply that for them, it was never a question. I then express my genuine disappointment in that answer.
 

Pendlum

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jason, I have never heard of a gay man saying he chose to be gay, never. Sadly, even if they acknowledge if it isn't a choice, which it isn't, I don't think it would stop them. They would probably then tote homosexuality has being directly possessed by Satan, and thus a threat to everyone, especially the children! :rolleyes: It's sick.
 

jason_els

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jason, I have never heard of a gay man saying he chose to be gay, never. Sadly, even if they acknowledge if it isn't a choice, which it isn't, I don't think it would stop them. They would probably then tote homosexuality has being directly possessed by Satan, and thus a threat to everyone, especially the children! :rolleyes: It's sick.

Yeah but they don't know that. To their knowledge, everyone they know is straight and gays live in a world of ceaseless non-committed perverted sex, drugs, and a longing to be the opposite sex. They are told that gays are condemned by God, faithless, immoral, and that all the stereotypes are true. Most conservative religious people tend to surround themselves with other people of the same mindset so it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that they really don't know any gay people. Let's face it, most gay people would not choose to live with conservative religious types or associate with them just as the converse is true. Those few they may know are either carefully closeted members of their community or are wayward children of members.

This isn't always true, however. My cousin and her husband are born-again and are quite certain homosexuality is a choice. As my cousin put it when she heard I was gay, "and when did Jason choose this lifestyle?" Thank heavens she has three wonderful kids who have no issue with my sexuality. My cousin has an enormous heart and I do love her even if I think her views on sexuality are naive, but it does illustrate that this misinformed propaganda is still being spread even today despite science showing several possible causes. It also illustrates that, somehow, homosexuality is a particular lifestyle choice separate and apart from its sexual component (see bit above for just what sort of debauchery that lifestyle consists of).
 
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Beachboy19

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jason, I have never heard of a gay man saying he chose to be gay, never. Sadly, even if they acknowledge if it isn't a choice, which it isn't, I don't think it would stop them. They would probably then tote homosexuality has being directly possessed by Satan, and thus a threat to everyone, especially the children! :rolleyes: It's sick.


I'd rather be a str8 guy who found the one than a lonely gay guy. But if I had another life, and if all the other conditions were equal or roughly equal, I'd choose to be gay or bi.

There is nothing wrong with homosexuality or bisexuality, so if its a choice or not is irrelevant.
 

Bbucko

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Marriage equality is the only example I can think of where civil rights are put to a public vote. That's just plain wrong.