Going After the “Movable Middle”

It’s tempting to look at the recent gay marriage defeats in Maine and California, and say at least we’re on the “right side of history.” The opposition is running on borrowed time, as young people increasingly support marriage equality. But the trend is not moving fast enough, and it’s clear that gay marriage supporters have been losing the “swing vote” in every election. Same-sex couples have largely won the battle for civil unions, but there’s something about “marriage” that makes moderates uneasy – and it’s time that we speak directly to their concerns. Third Way, a Washington DC based think tank, conducted a poll of 600 Maine voters right after Question One passed in November – which holds important conclusions we should build upon. As we look at repealing Prop 8 in California, going straight to those voters so we can win and finally move on to other battles is key. None of us want to wait until the old generation dies out, and nor should we have to.

More at: BeyondChron.com!

NOM’s Request Denied – Still Under the Microscope

The state ethics commission Thursday denied a request from the National Organization for Marriage to delay an investigation into the group’s finances .

Barry Bostrom, an attorney for the group, which contributed $1.9 million to a campaign to repeal the state’s gay-marriage law, told the commission that NOM feels its First Amendment rights are being violated by requests for information about donors.

He said because the state law is being challenged in federal court, it would be better to hold off on the state-level ethics investigation until that is resolved.

“We don’t want our identities revealed to the general public,” he said. “NOM cannot and will not waive its constitutional rights.” 

Bostrom said revealing the names of donors would have a chilling effect on the group’s ability to raise money for future campaigns.

He also submitted a news article on two instances in which Maine same-sex marriage opponents were threatened after the vote.

Bostrom said the group has already provided the ethics commission with all relevant information regarding its fundraising techniques to help support Stand for Marriage Maine, the political action committee formed to raise money to repeal gay marriage.

NOM’s contributions made up 63 percent of the funds raised by Stand for Marriage.

NOM has argued that it should not be required to file campaign finance reports that identify donors because it did not raise more than $5,000 specifically for the Maine campaign. Bostrom and others from the group have said that they donated funds from their general operating budget, not through direct solicitations, for the Maine campaign.

More at: Kennebec Journal

NOM Still Breaking Rules…and Getting Away With It!

I’m not certain how, or why there seems to be a way around this, but according to a post on Bangor Daily News:

The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Elections Practices is investigating whether NOM violated state campaign finance laws by refusing to name its donors in connection with Question 1 [in Maine] on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Attorneys for the group have argued that listing donors would discourage contributions because people would be afraid of retaliation.

The entire article is worth the read so I would urge you to click the link above to do so.

The problem is, this is not a “religious” issue as NOM would like to make marriage out to be, this is an ethics issue. This is an election issue. This is a governmental issue. Rules have been set, yet those who want to make the rules for LGBT tax-paying citizens do not want to abide by the rules.

People often wonder why the LGBT community is angry. They wonder why we are loud. Well, when paying taxes and abiding by the laws that our state and federal governments have in place, yet those who oppose do neither, then it’s a call for anger. It’s a call for voices to be raised and it’s a call for action.

Please, contact the IRS. Contact the Maine legislature, even if you do not live in Maine. Tell them you’re tired of tax-exempt organizations determining the inequality of tax-paying LGBT citizens!

Gay Marriage Supporters in Maine Rethink Strategies

It’s been nearly two months since Maine voters approved Question 1, vetoing the state’s same-sex marriage bill. In the wake of such a devastating defeat for the cause of equality, it’s necessary for marriage proponents to cast a critical eye upon their own strategy; otherwise, how else can future campaigns reverse these setbacks? Fortunately, it seems that supporters of marriage equality in Maine — including the state’s leading gay rights organization, Equality Maine — are stepping up to the task.

More at Change.org -Gay Rights!

Hundreds Protest Outside of St. Louis’ Cathedral Basilica

Grey skies framed the Neo-Byzantine dome of St. Louis’ Cathedral Basilica on Nov. 29 as hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and allied supporters protested the archdiocese’s donation of $10,000 to the successful effort to reverse marriage equality in Maine.

The protest, which took place on the public portion of sidewalk in front of the New Cathedral, was organized by St. Louis based GLBT rights organization, Show Me No Hate. A smaller contngent of protesters was on hand for morning mass and the organization plans to rally outside the iconic edifice each Sunday throughout Advent — the period of preparation and waiting for Christmas.

In response to the protest, St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson issued a statement saying that the donation came from a “special needs fund” endowed from “private gifts.” According to Carlson, the fund is not used for formal church operations and can be used at the archbishop’s discretion.

“No longer will we tolerate the religious funding of hate,” stated Show Me No Hate founder Ed Reggi. “The Archbishop showed no mercy for the poor, sick and homeless in St. Louis. The $10,000 Carlson wired to Maine could have helped the empty food pantries and local toy drives this Christmas season.”

More at: The Vital Voice!

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