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7 Nov 2012

US voters advance same-sex marriage in 3 states, first openly gay politician elected to the Senate

As US voters re-elected President Barack Obama to a second term, voters in Maryland and Maine passed referendums to allow gay couples to marry – making it the first time same-sex marriage has been approved by a popular vote; Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin also made history by becoming the first openly gay person elected to the Senate.

Voters in Maine and Maryland on Tuesday approved same-sex marriage in local referendums on social issues, marking the first time marriage rights have been extended to same-sex couples by popular vote. The same measure is expected to pass in Washington state but the results are not yet final.

Same-sex marriage is not federally recognised, but was legalised by legislators or the courts in six other states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York) and the District of Columbia.

According to CNN, voters in Maryland and Maine passed referendums by narrow margins cementing the right for people to marry, regardless of gender.

Maine had voted in a referendum against it in 2009, but reversed that decision with 54 percent in favour to 46 percent against.

The words man and woman "relating to the marital relationship or familial relationships must be construed to be gender-neutral for all purposes," Maine's act says. "Civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license," reads Maryland's.

Minnesota voters meanwhile turned down the choice to ban gay marriage by limiting the definition of marriage in the state constitution as "between one man and one woman".

Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay person, and and first Wisconsin woman, to be elected to the U.S. Senate.

In another gain for LGBTs in the US, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin became the first openly gay person, and the first Wisconsin woman, to be elected to the US Senate.

Citing several LGBT advocacy groups, the CNN noted in a report that there has never been an openly gay or lesbian member of the US Senate. Baldwin is one of four openly gay House members, along with fellow Democrats Barney Frank, of Massachusetts; David Cicilline, of Rhode Island; and Jared Polis, of Colorado.

The report said: "Baldwin made no secret of her sexual orientation as she rose through local and state politics during the last two decades. When she was elected in 1998 to represent Wisconsin's second congressional district, she was the first out candidate to be elected to the chamber, said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of political action committee Victory Fund, which supported LGBT candidates including Baldwin this election."

President Obama is also notably the first acting president to support marriage equality. He came out in favour of gay marriage months before the election which pitted him against Republican rival Mitt Romney, who insists that marriage should be reserved for a relationship between a man and a woman. 

During his first four-year term, Obama had also fulfilled a pledge to repeal the controversial Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) law banning openly gay servicemen and women from serving in the US military. 

United States

读者回应

1. 2012-11-07 19:56  
Congratulations US! you've done it again.

-- so, mr ryan can hold romney's hands to retire in salt lake city and both become great mormon preacher now? lol
修改於2012-11-08 20:07:15
2. 2012-11-07 20:28  
@meadowland: are you referring to Mr. Mitt Romney?
3. 2012-11-07 21:18  
It would be a good thing if Ryan would go into permanent retirement, not become a preacher ( he isn't a Mormon, Romney is ) poisoning the minds of little children, but unfortunately I am sure we have not heard the last of him.
4. 2012-11-08 00:17  
Washington State also voted on same sex marriage and as of yesterday evening, (PST), there was more yes votes than no. I hope it makes it!
5. 2012-11-08 02:00  
Guess my country isnt QUITE all bad after all!
6. 2012-11-08 02:04  
This was the biggest election day for the US LGBT community in my lifetime. Up next... US Supreme Court. ;-)
回应#7於於2012-11-08 07:45被作者删除。
8. 2012-11-08 10:44  
I must say it is nice to see something good done in the US for gays and lesbians. Times are changing in the US.
9. 2012-11-08 13:47  
I was in Seattle and it was very emotional and very festive. I had to work the next day and was going to stay home, but I could not let this pass without a celebration! That night I did not realize that two other states had already passed it. When I heard the next day my breath was taken away. I have waited so long for this!

Now, I think it will be a very short time that we see marriage equality nationwide. It is about time!
10. 2012-11-08 17:52  
Gay marriage declared victory in Washington state! But we still need to take this further to the Supreme Court to make it legit!
11. 2012-11-08 23:35  
well, the U.S. playing catch up... all big news... what country gave women first vote? And is soon to give gay marriage (admittedly having a conservative government after the granting of civil union)... ? Come live in New Zealand... and let's further tilt the tide towards "humanity for humanity"!
12. 2012-11-08 23:36  
well, the U.S. playing catch up... all big news... what country gave women first vote? And is soon to give gay marriage (admittedly having a conservative government after the granting of civil union)... ? Come live in New Zealand... and let's further tilt the tide towards "humanity for humanity"!
回应#13於於2012-11-08 23:38被作者删除。
14. 2012-11-09 09:47  
Fridae.com, please note you completely left out Mark Takano, Congressman from California.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/election/2012/11/07/mark-takano-becomes-first-lgbt-person-color-congress
15. 2012-11-09 11:07  
Great news
16. 2012-11-09 18:03  
Interesting..
17. 2012-11-09 18:48  
good news for all of us,..
18. 2012-11-11 11:23  
thats great!!!! wow..
19. 2012-11-12 08:19  
Absolutely great news for the people of Maine, Maryland and Washington but why not just do what Canada did and make marriage equality nation-wide? In terms of respect for diversity and equal rights for LGBT people, I think Canada's miles ahead of the US but that's just my personal view. Anyway, applause aplenty to Tammy Baldwin. Knock those fundamentalist Christian red-necks dead, wonder woman :-)!

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