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We should be getting used to this. It was yet another disappointing, heartbreaking night of election returns as Maine voters overturned marriage rights for same-sex couples and an overt homophobe won his race to become the next attorney general of Virginia.
With Tuesday’s results, Maine joins 30 other states whose voters have rejected marriage equality.
In Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli’s win in the attorney general’s race represents a major setback to LGBT residents there. You can bet gay state employees will again face legal discrimination. And if you’re a gay or lesbian employee in the state attorney general’s office, you’d better dust off your resume this morning. Cuccinelli recently told the Virginian-Pilot that, “homosexual acts are wrong. They’re intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law based country it’s appropriate to have policies that reflect that.”
Forget all the hoopla about Virginia going “purple.” Virginia is a decidedly “red” state — and arguably the most hostile to LGBT people in the nation. I’m astounded that gay people still live there.
Despite the enormous setbacks, the news isn’t all bad: Washington state’s expansive domestic partnership law, dubbed “everything but marriage,” looks like it has survived a repeal effort in a very close vote. The results, in which a DP program survives and marriage is consistently rejected at the ballot box, will surely trigger debate in the national movement about the way forward on relationship recognition. Unfortunately, the result in Maine will discourage supportive lawmakers in other states from putting their political necks and reputations on the line to back marriage equality.
The marriage fight now shifts to New Jersey, where, in yet another setback, Democrat and marriage equality supporter Jon Corzine was unseated by Republican Christopher Christie, who opposes same-sex marriage. The legislature now has about two months to pass a marriage bill while Corzine remains in office and can sign it. After that, New Jersey’s same-sex couples face a minimum four-year wait for full marriage rights.
Meanwhile, voters in Kalamazoo, Mich., adopted an ordinance barring anti-gay discrimination in public accommodations, employment and housing.
Another bright spot last night emerged in Texas, of all places. Annise Parker, the city controller, placed first in the Houston mayoral race, advancing to a December runoff against Gene Locke, a former attorney general. Houston is the country’s fourth largest city. And did I mention it’s in Texas? The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund deserves credit for its support of Parker, who won the hard way: by paying her dues, winning previous citywide races, running an aggressive, smart campaign and refusing to run from her sexual orientation. Houstonians know and trust her and she’s earned the job of mayor.
But the headline from yesterday’s elections is that gay rights supporters suffered yet another major blow following the outcome in Maine. Why is it always the most sanctimonious and “religious” figures who lead the charge to pass these draconian measures that target and damage our families? People like Brian Brown and Maggie Gallagher of the National Organization for Marriage (not to mention the Catholic Church and its army of hypocritical pedophiles) have devoted their professional lives to tormenting gay people. Their victims are couples with children, with financial problems, with health problems who merely seek the same legal rights and protections extended to their heterosexual neighbors paying the same taxes.
I feel sorry for the Brian Browns and Maggie Gallaghers of this country who are so filled with fear that they derive career satisfaction from inflicting pain on innocent families. They will ultimately lose this war. And they know it. The anti-gay ballot measures are passing by small and shrinking margins. Older generations are being replaced by open-minded voters who aren’t afraid of opening up the institution of marriage to more loving couples.
It’s a bitter day for many activists and LGBT rights supporters who worked so hard to preserve marriage equality in Maine. But after a short mourning period, I hope they move on to New Jersey, New York and Washington, D.C., where victories await in the very short term.
 Posted by Kevin Naff,
Washington Blade Editor | Nov. 4 at
9:44 AM | knaff@washblade.com
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