Another victory for equal rights

Maine has followed Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut in recognizing all citizens' rights to marry.

Earlier today, Maine's legislature approved a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, and less than an hour later, Governor Baldacci signed it.

"I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."

New Hampshire is next in New England to vote on a bill for marriage equality today, though it no news yet. A similar bill has already been introduced in Rhode Island, but is not expected to pass this year. The DC city council has passed a preliminary measure to recognize same-sex unions performed in other states.

I am personally overjoyed at this news for a variety of reasons. But the biggest reason that it's so exciting is that finally citizens are starting to realize that equality really is for everyone. I continue to be confused by opponents of same-sex marriage who protest on the basis of religious rights.

First of all, making marriage an equal right for all does not lessen the "importance" of marriage for other people. Most of the same-sex marriage legislation does not give special dispensation for gay citizens; it just doesn't define marriage between a man and a woman. Straight married couples' rights do not disappear with the creation of equal rights for all.

Second of all, the government is not forcing churches to perform ceremonies for gay couples. There already are churches that perform committment ceremonies for couples who cannot be legally married. Nowhere in any legislation is there an attack on any church or religion.

Third of all, why do people keep contending that the government should "protect marriage?" Where in the Constitution is that obligation enumerated? It's not the government's job to protect the "sanctitity" of a religious ceremony or institution. That's sort of what the free exercise and establishment clauses in the First Amendment are about.

I have more snarky comments, like how straight couples should take a look at the divorce rate before talking about the sanctity of marriage. But the bottom line is really, same-sex legislation to me is a lot like hate crimes legislation. Do I think that the government should have any involvement? Absolutely not. But until all people really are treated equally, we need some reminders of TJ's words.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...