[ Poll ] Maine voted against Gay Marriage. Was the voting even fair?

Is it constitutionally right to decide this by a vote?

Yes, it is.		32.8%	[ 20 ]
No, it is not.		67.2%	[ 41 ]

Total Votes: 61

[Akiroti]

So, I haven't studied law or government...and I have little knowledge on the subject. These are honest thoughts and I will take no offense if you prove me wrong. In fact, I would LIKE that.
If I am correct, the Legislative system decides things based on nothing but the Constitution(s) (American and or State). So, with the Legislative branch, various social issues deemed innappropriate were declared appropriate because the constitution either did not frown, or frowned upon the barring of it. Women's suffrage, and the Civil Rights movement under Blacks was never solved by a vote. A vote CLEARLY would have been unfair. How is this any different from the Homosexual Movement? Well. that would depend on whether one believes Homosexual Marriage is a SOCIAL or POLITICAL issue.
If it is a social issue, in a perfectly constitutional world, it is to be solved by each individual person, not the government, and certainly not a vote by the common people. This is in fact why our founding fathers avoided a complete democracy. They feared the blindness of the common man.
If it is a political issue, it is to be solved politically...as with a vote or any other sort of democratic function installed into our constitution.
So yes, the Anti Gay Marriage group won 53% to 47%. But, is this fair to be put up to a vote anyway?
Think about it. Votes are subject to bias. The Constitution is as well, though a lot less and a lot more open to interpretation...hence why the Legislative Branch interprets and decides what the government can and can't allow...or better what what it can and cannot enforce.
Constitutionally, and I believe the founding fathers did this on purpose, you CANNOT enforce a rule saying a church CAN or CANNOT wed whosoever they wish.
Every state allowing gay marriage decided it through Legislation AS IT SHOULD. Now, with votes, it's going to hell. It's like we're reversing what we've done in spite of our constitution.

It's like New York holding a vote on whether or not to illegalize being goth. The Prep Side wins with 54%, and the Goth side loses with 46%. It directly goes against the first ammendment. As does outlawing gay marriage. If one wishes to express their love through marriage, the government has no say in it. But this also depends on whether you believe marriage is a RELIGIOUS issue or not.
Someone enlighten me in law, please.
TL;DR?
Homosexual Marriage- Social or Political Issue? Religious or Non-religious ruling? Does the government have the right to ban it through a common vote?

[Akiroti]

Phantomboy411

another thing, we talk about the civil rights movement, women's suffrage movement, etc., but the thing is, those were MOVEMENTS. they had organized protests and leaders, and worked hard to make change for their rights. now, unless i'm mistaken, the only thing gay people can't legally is marry most of the time, and the only thing that's going to change that is if they actually make a move. protest or something. otherwise, we're stuck with voting.

In each campaign the gays have done way more than the anti-gays. They've marched, they've been to Washington, They've met the President, they've protested. This IS a movement. It may not be of the same magnitude, but you can't deny its existence.

[GunsmithKitten]

Phantomboy411

when gay people stop dancing naked through the streets of new orleans, then we'll talk about marriage.

I've tried to tell my fellow LGBT's this, but it falls on deaf ears.

[Phantomboy411]

Akiroti

Phantomboy411

another thing, we talk about the civil rights movement, women's suffrage movement, etc., but the thing is, those were MOVEMENTS. they had organized protests and leaders, and worked hard to make change for their rights. now, unless i'm mistaken, the only thing gay people can't legally is marry most of the time, and the only thing that's going to change that is if they actually make a move. protest or something. otherwise, we're stuck with voting.

In each campaign the gays have done way more than the anti-gays. They've marched, they've been to Washington, They've met the President, they've protested. This IS a movement. It may not be of the same magnitude, but you can't deny its existence.

hmm... i suppose not. however, it doesn't seem like one can deny the distinct lack of media coverage, either. probably b/c this doesn't affect a large portion of the population.

[Le Cynique]

The majority should not be allowed to vote on minority rights.

If minority rights were always decided based on a vote, we'd probably still have slaves.

[Kaosgirl]

Phantomboy411

when gay people stop dancing naked through the streets of new orleans, then we'll talk about marriage.

Yeah, maybe you wanna do something about the straight folks dancing naked through the streets of new orleans before you make that a criteria razz

[Kaosgirl]

GunsmithKitten

Phantomboy411

when gay people stop dancing naked through the streets of new orleans, then we'll talk about marriage.

I've tried to tell my fellow LGBT's this, but it falls on deaf ears.

I dislike the double standard. "Mardi Gras was just good clean fun, till them faggots decided to play too."

[eikocarol212]

Le Cynique

The majority should not be allowed to vote on minority rights.

If minority rights were always decided based on a vote, we'd probably still have slaves.

This. Why are we allowed to vote on rights that legal, consenting adults should already have? It is ridiculous.

[Xeno Incognito]

Phantomboy411

another thing, we talk about the civil rights movement, women's suffrage movement, etc., but the thing is, those were MOVEMENTS. they had organized protests and leaders, and worked hard to make change for their rights. now, unless i'm mistaken, the only thing gay people can't legally is marry most of the time, and the only thing that's going to change that is if they actually make a move. protest or something. otherwise, we're stuck with voting.

Do you know anything about gay history? It wasn't as open as it is today.

[ennaelatan]

Comparing marriage rights with fashion statements is just as wrong as the government telling gay people they can't marry.

As for Phantomboy - people involved with the Gay Rights Movement do protest.
I don't know if you recall Stonewall? Or if that's too old for you, maybe the march on Washington nearly one month ago? The government hasn't listened yet. That doesn't mean the movement's done or even slowing. It means it's going to try harder.

Running naked in the streets? Are you a bigot? Are you really so ignorant?

Back on topic now, though.

It's absolutely a political issue. Marriage awards rights to heterosexual couples that homosexual couples are never awarded. It shouldn't be an issue, and that's the problem. It should be a given that you should be able to marry the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with. Let's ignore the the argument that wishes to "protect the sanctity of marriage," because the divorce rate speaks louder than a bunch of ignorant and frightened people grasping at straws.

Marriage has its political and social aspects. It conveys the idea to everyone around you that you're in love with your partner. It shows that you're committed.
Many states in the US do not allow you to adopt unless you're married. That automatically cuts out the gay community.

If it's to be put to a vote, then I say that heterosexual marriages should be put to a vote. Let's be fair, this is the US after all.

EDIT: I could list all the differences between Civil Unions (this is what gay couples are sometimes, depending on the state, allowed to have in place of marriage) and Civil Marriages, but there's about a thousand rights that make the difference. That's a /lot/ of typing.

[Seattleite]

Le Cynique

The majority should not be allowed to vote on minority rights.

If minority rights were always decided based on a vote, we'd probably still have slaves.

This, this, this.

[Kuchen Fairy]

What's the point in letting people vote on an issue if you're only willing to accept or recognise one view?

[GunsmithKitten]

Kaosgirl

GunsmithKitten

Phantomboy411

when gay people stop dancing naked through the streets of new orleans, then we'll talk about marriage.

I've tried to tell my fellow LGBT's this, but it falls on deaf ears.

I dislike the double standard. "Mardi Gras was just good clean fun, till them faggots decided to play too."

I've never claimed Mardis Gras was good clean fun, not since it got taped for Girls Gone Wild crap.