Marriage Equality Leaders Look Ahead After Ballot Defeat

EqualityMaine, Maine Civil Liberties Union, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders and Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition Grieve with Maine Families, Vow to Fight On

Following Tuesday’s veto at the ballot box of Maine’s new marriage equality law, leaders of the No on 1 Campaign, as well as several pro-equality organizations, on behalf of the 40+ member Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition, spoke about Maine’s families and the future.  EqualityMaine, the Maine Civil Liberties Union, and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) served on the steering committee of the No on 1 campaign, and, along with the Maine Women’s Lobby, ran the legislative campaign for marriage equality.

“To the young and old, who worked double and triple volunteer shifts or canvassed their neighborhoods, we know this is a painful loss,” said Jesse Connolly, No on 1 Campaign Manager.  “There is too much at stake and we will not stand down.  This struggle for equality must go on as the moral arc bends toward justice.  You will always be part of that journey and that journey is both noble and proud.”

“We respect today’s decision by Maine voters.  Our 8,000 volunteers had many thousands of conversations with Mainers, and they know more than anyone how difficult this decision was for many people.  We know that voters made their decisions after deep thought and reflection.  We will continue in a similarly respectful manner to work for this basic fairness in state law,” said Betsy Smith, Executive Director of EqualityMaine.

“Our thoughts today are with the loving, committed Maine families who remain without protections,” said Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director of GLAD. “We hope they are comforted by the knowledge that the many Mainers who got to know them really understood that we all need the equal ability to care for our families and children.  And we are excited about continuing to work shoulder to shoulder with those folks as we seek equal protection for all families in Maine.”

“As long as Maine families are denied the equal protection of the law, this campaign continues,” said Shenna Bellows, Executive Director of the Maine Civil Liberties Union.  “We should all draw strength and inspiration from the thousands of Mainers who began this campaign as strangers and ended up as neighbors.  Not one of us is free while our neighbors are denied their civil rights.”

Patricia Peard, along with other members of the Executive Committee, also commented on the No on 1 Campaign which has now concluded.  “We are all so deeply grateful to Campaign Manager Jesse Connolly and the great team of staff and volunteers he put together,” said Peard.  “We are very proud of the tenor and tone of this campaign and will carry that forward.”

“Hundreds of thousands of Mainers share a common sadness, and we are buoyed by the tremendous support of those friends,” said Smith.  “We started this campaign by gathering the names of over 50,000 supporters of marriage equality.  We end the campaign, knowing that over 253,000 voters support equality. That’s huge.”

“Today’s result doesn’t change the painful fact that gay and lesbian Mainers are still denied the many protections that only marriage brings,” said Bonauto.  “We will continue to do everything to ensure that all Maine families – including gay and lesbian families – can take care of each other and their children.”

“Our heartache today strengthens our resolve for action tomorrow,” said Bellows.  “We will continue to educate Mainers across the state through our Family Ambassador Program.  We will continue to work with the over 200 Maine clergy who support marriage equality toward that future date when we can finally end this discrimination in civil marriage.”

“We have worked for basic anti-discrimination protections for thirty years,” said Pat Peard, President of the No on 1/Protect Maine Equality Political Action Committee.  “We are thankful and inspired by the progress we made this year.  We will not give up hope.”

EqualityMaine, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Maine Civil Liberties Union and Engage Maine will continue statewide public education efforts including a family story book and a Family Ambassador project that encourages parent to parent conversations about marriage equality.  The groups will also continue to work collaboratively with the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry to have conversations and presentations about marriage equality in faith communities across Maine.

Benjamin Dudley, Executive Director of Engage Maine, added, “As a collaboration of dozens of Maine advocacy  organizations, Engage Maine is unified by the knowledge that our public institutions  are essential tools for improving people’s lives. As one of the many partners of the Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition, we stand here in  solidarity with our allies, steadfastly committed to making the public institution of marriage available to all families.”