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Marriage, Maps and Maine

Sam Ritchie,
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September 10, 2009

The first marriages of same-sex couples in Vermont last Tuesday were just the impetus I needed to finish up our new marriage laws and relationship recognition maps.

relationship recognition map

Like a 5-year-old with a new pack of crayons, I happily filled in states with blue (the color for marriage), green (for New York and D.C., which recognize out-of-state marriages) and yellow (the color of 鈥渁ll-but-the-name鈥 civil unions and domestic partnerships, which grant the same rights and responsibilities as marriage). Even the grey states 鈥 which have some sort of 鈥渓ess-than-marriage鈥 relationship recognition for same-sex couples 鈥 were satisfying, since adding them meant that there鈥檚 almost no region of the country without a state that recognizes our relationships. (Sorry Southerners, but you鈥檒l get there!)

Then, after the burst of satisfaction, there was anxiety. What kind of crazy person could get anxious coloring in a map, you might ask. Well, I鈥檒l tell you who: Me. And I鈥檒l tell you why: The asterisks.

I had to add asterisks to the map to note the two states 鈥 Maine and Washington 鈥 where recognition granted to same-sex relationships will be up for a popular vote in November. Similar to what happened in California last year, voters in these two states could take back the progress that their legislatures made in the march towards equality. The asterisks mean that two big steps forward could wind up being two big steps back.

So these asterisks on my new map are giving me agita (and will until I鈥檓 watching the election results come in on November 3), but they鈥檙e also a challenge to each of us. These two elections don鈥檛 have to be a repeat of Prop 8. The is part of a fighting to keep marriage in Maine. They鈥檙e encouraging supporters of equality everywhere to take a this fall and go to Maine to work on the campaign. , the coalition of groups (including the ) working to retain comprehensive domestic partnerships, is also looking for volunteers support. If you can鈥檛 make it to either corner of the country, the campaigns could use your financial support. (While you鈥檙e at it, encourage your friends to give as well!)

Losing marriage in California was a huge disappointment for our community, but the progress in Maine and Washington (not to mention Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and Nevada) have helped us regain our footing and realize that we鈥檙e still moving forward. Let鈥檚 not let our new progress become the next setback. Contact one of the campaigns today and find out what you can do to get involved. I promise you this: On November 3, you鈥檒l be glad you did.

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