Notaries public in Maine who officiate weddings of opposite-sex couples and refuse to marry same-sex couples could be subject to a claim of discrimination under the Maine Human Rights Act, according to the Maine secretary of state’s office.
The notice sent to municipal clerks this week effectively means an all or none approach for notaries public when it comes to performing weddings.
...The email clarified for notaries public whether they would be required to perform same-sex weddings when the new law allowing gay couples to marry goes into effect Dec. 29. The Bangor Daily News was provided a copy of the email by the Bangor city clerk’s office.
“If you are a Notary Public who performs marriages and you refuse to perform a marriage for a couple due to a person’s race, color, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, age, ancestry or national origin, you may be subject to a claim of discrimination.’’ Beaudoin wrote. “The new law authorizing same-sex marriage does not provide any exemption from liability for Maine Notaries who refuse to perform marriages for same-sex couples.”
There are about 25,000 notaries public licensed by the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, a division of the secretary of state’s office, Barbara Redmond, who works in the bureau, said Wednesday in a phone interview.
... After the referendum allowing same-sex couples to marry was passed by voters on Nov. 6, a few notaries called the secretary of state’s office with questions about how the new law applied to them, Redmond said. A handful resigned.
Category Archives: Maine
Maine Notaries Already Resigning After Being Told to Perform S-S Ceremonies or Risk Human Rights Lawsuits
Post-Marriage Election Round-Up: Statements from (Arch)bishops and Catholic Conferences -- Disappointment, Gratitude, Resolve
From the Marriage, Unique for a Reason blog run by the U.S. Bishops:
In addition to Archbishop Cordileone’s statement expressing disappointment about the results of the four marriage referenda, Archbishops, Bishops, and Catholic Conferences in the four states where voters voted to redefine marriage on Tuesday have released statements. Their words echo Cardinal Dolan’s conviction, expressed in a statement released after the election: “We will continue to stand in defense of life, marriage, and our first, most cherished liberty, religious freedom.”
Read the statements by the Catholic bishops and Catholic conferences in the four states here.
Maine Bishop Thanks Catholics Who Fought to Defend Marriage
Bishop Richard Malone of Maine:
“I am deeply disappointed that a majority of Maine voters have redefined marriage from what we have understood it to be for millennia by civilizations and religions around the world. I am thankful for those who engaged in sincere and civil discourse on this matter of such serious consequence to our society. I am grateful to those who supported and recognize the value of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. I especially want to thank the Catholic faithful who did not abandon Catholic teachings on the nature of marriage.
These past few months have served as a teaching opportunity to explain to parishioners and the wider community about how and why the Church views and values marriage as the union of one man and one woman open to new life.
It has also been an opportunity for learning. I trust that those who voted for such a radical change did so out of concern for our brothers and sisters who struggle with same-sex attraction. Respect and acceptance of all people regardless of sexual orientation is not a point of controversy. It is a teaching of the Church, but so is the authentic meaning and definition of marriage. That is why the Catholic Church will continue its commitment to work for the basic human rights to which all people are entitled, while remaining devoted to preserving and strengthening the precious gift of marriage.”
SHOCKING: Church Vandalized for Support of Traditional Marriage
Dear Marriage Supporter,
Take a deep breath and then take a look at these pictures. Overnight, vandals attacked a small, 150-year old church with graffiti, leaving spray-painted swastikas to greet Pastor Steve DeGroft as he arrived this morning.
Why? Because this church in Maine took a stand for marriage.
Now ask yourself this question: Have you voted today? Have you done everything in your power to make sure that in Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington, and Iowa that you or your friends and family have voted to protect marriage.
Some states require a yes vote to protect marriage; some a vote no, against, or to reject same-sex marriage.
To protect marriage:
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In Maine Vote NO on Question 1
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In Maryland Vote AGAINST Question 6
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In Washington vote to REJECT Referendum-74
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In Minnesota vote YES on Question 1 (the Marriage Protection Amendment)
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In Iowa, vote NO on retaining pro-gay marriage Judge David Wiggins
Each of these races—in Maine, Washington, Maryland, Minnesota, and Iowa—is extremely close. And our opponents know it.
Take another look at that vandalized church. If you have not done everything in your power to get out the vote in these key states—or if you have not voted yourself—you are allowing this to occur, not just in Maine, but throughout the country.
Same-sex marriage undermines religious liberty. Many of those who wish to redefine marriage believe that churches and individuals who stand up for traditional marriage deserve to be intimidated and punished.
Will we let them?
We can't let hostility and intimidation carry the day. If you live in one of these four states, please call your friends and family right now to make sure they join you at the polls today. Perhaps you know someone in your church who might need a ride.
Whatever you can do, do it now. Stand up for marriage, religious liberty, and common decency with your vote today!
A Maine Surprise: Could Marriage Supporters Score an Electoral College Vote for Romney?
A statewide poll of Maine by critical insights shows Obama under 50% support, leading Romney by only 7 points.
Maine apportions its electoral votes by congressional district, and in Maine's 2nd district dem-leaning PPP has Romney only down by 5 points.
Republicans have sent a mailer into this area informing voters that "only one candidate supports traditional marriage: Mitt Romney."
Pundits are already pointing out the advantage Romney is gaining from pro-Amendment 1 supporters in Minnesota.
Could the wave of voters showing up to vote no on Question 1 (gay marriage) tomorrow also carry Romney to a win in Maine's 2nd district?
We don't know but it will be fascinating to find out tomorrow.
NOM's Peters: "Turnout" Key to Defending Marriage
Charlie Butts at OneNewsNow:
Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state are voting to protect marriage or to redefine it to be a genderless institution. As Thomas Peters of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) notes, the campaign is in the final hours.
"This is all about getting out the vote and turning out people," he contends. "There's been a lot of focus on polling in all these four states, but the line I keep using -- and it's the truth -- is that the polls don't matter. Hard work and who votes matter. Those are who win elections."
... Peters submits there are three keys to gaining success in all four states Tuesday: "turnout, turnout, turnout."
Today is Election Day: How To Protect Marriage!
If you live in one of the four states voting on marriage today here is how to protect it!
New Poll Shows: We Have the Momentum for Marriage in Maine!
A new poll out tonight by MPRC which surveyed likely voters Nov 1st-3rd has us only 4 points behind in Maine! Previous polls to this one have had us down by 7-8 points. Polls before the Maine vote in 2009 had us losing by 6 points, when we went on to win on election night by 6 points.
This is hugely encouraging news and shows that if pro-marriage supporters turn out tomorrow we will win!
On Question 1 (=gay marriage) MPRC found Mainers answering:
Yes: 50.5%
No: 46.5%
Undecided: 2.9%
To learn more visit www.ProtectMarriageMaine.com.
Days Before Election, Maine Middle Schoolers Subjected to Graphic Homosexual Discussion
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2012
Contact: Elizabeth Ray or Jen Campbell (703-683-5004)
Days Before Election, Maine Middle Schoolers Subjected to Graphic Homosexual Discussion: This is what is at stake in fight to protect traditional marriage
"This most recent example, days before citizens in four states vote to protect marriage or to redefine it, should sound the alarm bells for pro-marriage citizens and for parents who care about what their children are taught in school." —Brian Brown, NOM president—
Washington, D.C.—Reacting to news that young children at Gorham Middle School in Maine were exposed by an instructor to graphic descriptions of homosexual sex last week, Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) said, "We've seen in state after state and to our north in Canada that once same-sex marriage is legalized, children are at risk of being taught in school about it and related topics, often without advance parental notification and even against the stated opposition of parents."
Brown continued, "This most recent example, days before citizens in four states vote to protect marriage or to redefine it, should sound the alarm bells for pro-marriage citizens and for parents who care about what their children are taught in school."
Four states are voting on marriage this Tuesday: Washington State, Maryland, Minnesota, and Maine (where this most recent episode occurred).
###
To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Jen Campbell (x145), [email protected] , or Elizabeth Ray (x130), [email protected] , at 703-683-5004.
Paid for by The National Organization for Marriage, Brian Brown, president. 2029 K Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006, not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. New § 68A.405(1)(f) & (h).
Maine Elementary Students Subjected to Graphic Homosexual Sex Instruction
Dear Marriage Supporter,
Gay marriage activists falsely claim time and time again that legalizing same sex-marriage won't change what is taught to our children in school.
They should tell that to Kristy Howard, a mother in Maine whose child was taught about graphic homosexual foreplay during "Diversity Day" at Gorham Elementary and Middle School just last week.
"I don't want my child taught heterosexual foreplay, let alone homosexual foreplay in school," she said.
We couldn't agree more.
Parental and children's rights advocates have long pointed out that changing the definition of marriage will change what schools teach our children. Amazingly, the principal is still defending the choice to have "Diversity Day."
Watch the local news report that was filed just last night:
Gay marriage doesn't just mean it will be taught in schools in the future—it's already happening now unless we act decisively.
Marriage Supporter, I need your help RIGHT NOW. Please forward this email right away to all your friends and family. People need to know what is happening.
Please, please get this story out to your friends, family and church members via email or even better, in person—especially your friends and family in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, or Washington.
If you are on Facebook, Twitter, etc, please share it that way...anything and everything you can do to make sure this story goes VIRAL in the next 48 hours will help tremendously!
We can't let marriage be redefined because gay marriage advocates have convinced people that "it doesn't hurt anybody."
Protecting our children means voting to protect marriage.
To protect marriage, we must vote NO on Question 1 (same-sex marriage marriage) in Maine, vote YES on Minnesota's Marriage Protection Amendment (Amendment 1), and REJECT Referendum-74 (same-sex marriage) in Washington and AGAINST Question 6 (same-sex marriage) in Maryland.
Maine Newspaper Poll: Slim Majority Think Gay Marriage Will Be Defeated!
Before gay marriage activists swamp this poll we thought it was interesting that by a(n unscientific) vote of 236-226 Mainers think Question 1 (gay marriage) will be defeated! This one is going to be close!
Here' are some quotes in the accompanying article from Carroll Conley of Protect Marriage Maine:
Carroll Conley of Protect Marriage Maine, which leads the campaign against Question 1, said that “Whenever people talk about momentum, it has never occurred by voters.” He pointed to a May 2012 vote that amended North Carolina’s constitution to ban gay marriage. The ban passed overwhelmingly, and “If you took out all the voters over 45, it still would have passed by 8 percent,” according to Conley.
... In an Oct. 17 Reuters report, Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, a leading opponent of gay marriage, argued that pre-election polls are unreliable because the questions are biased.
“If it’s framed as fairness or equality, you see movement,” Conley, of Protect Marriage Maine, said. “If you ask the question of whether marriage should be a union of one man and one woman straight up, the needle doesn’t move as far. If you do polling about the consequences, then we see the numbers down to where they were in 2009.”
Ministers in All 16 Maine Counties Say Vote No On Question 1!
Hundreds of ministry leaders from all across Maine, covering all 16 counties, support marriage and have publicly endorsed voting NO on Question One (gay marriage):
Learn more at wwwProtectMarriageMaine.com.
New PPP Poll Confirms: Turnout Will Be Key to Victory
Maine's referendum to legalize gay marriage is leading for passage by a 52/45 margin, numbers virtually unchanged from 52/44 in our last survey. What we've found historically with these gay marriage ballot measures though is that undecided voters tend to end up voting anti-gay so if I had to guess this is something more like a 52/48 advantage and at that point it can go either way- this is likely to be a pretty close vote.
There is an enormous gender gap opn the marriage issue with women planning to vote for equal rights by a 59/37 margin, while men oppose them by a 55/43 spread. 75% of Democrats support the proposal, 75% of Republicans oppose it, and independents lean slightly in favor of it 51/44. Every age group supports it except for seniors, who are opposed 51/46. Voters under 30 unsurprisingly give it the widest support at 57/34.
Brad Pitt Donates $100K to Gay Marriage! We Can Fight Back!
Dear Marriage Supporter,
Did you hear the news? Brad Pitt just gave $100,000 to the four campaigns fighting to impose gay marriage next Tuesday.
What's even more distressing is that Brad Pitt's own mother Jane Pitt has been the subject of death threats and a torrent of public abuse for speaking out against gay marriage, and yet her son has still chosen to double down by pushing gay marriage on the rest of the country!
I can hardly think of a better example of a liberal millionaire trying to impose his Hollywood values on all of us, no matter the consequences.
Let's fight back!
Your contribution will help determine who has the final say on gay marriage: the $100,000 Brad Pitt just gave...or the $100,000 we raise from hundreds of pro-marriage activists like you!
Together, we can fight back against Hollywood millionaires like Brad Pitt and, with your help, we can protect the values they are attempting to dismantle and obscure.
So please join me in standing up for marriage and for pro-marriage citizens like Jane Pitt by donating generously to these four state efforts.
Thank you for all your generosity. We are so close!
Maine Resident: "Question 1 Doesn't Include Protection for Religious Freedom
Cyndi Redmond writes to the Kennebec Journal:
"On the same-sex marriage bill, Mainers deserve answers to two basic questions:
* With the overwhelming evidence that legalizing same-sex marriage will dramatically undermine religious freedom in Maine, why did same-sex marriage advocates intentionally omit the protections to reduce some of the threats, such as protection of religious objectors to same-sex marriage, including religiously affiliated nonprofit organizations from being penalized by loss of government contracts or in other ways because of their religious objection? And what about housing programs of religious organizations? These are bright, well-informed people, and they certainly knew that by choosing not to include protections, they were guaranteeing a deeply divisive conflict over religious freedom issues in Maine.
* Since they had to know that this decision would actually result in greater threats to religious freedom in Maine if this law is enacted, why would they try to mislead Mainers that their bill actually protects religious freedom?"
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