Should Maine Even Be Voting on Same-Sex Marriage?

“Let the people vote!” was the refrain in Massachusetts five years ago when same-sex marriage was legalized by the court.  Who could argue with that?  Well, lots of people, it seems.  Governor Deval Patrick, who ran on a pro-gay marriage platform, won by a landslide in 2006.  He threw the power of his office to stop the question of marriage to come to a vote.  It has never been acceptable to bring civil rights issues before the public.

One example can be found in Washington, DC.  Right now the city council is debating whether or not the district should legalize same-sex marriages. Opponents to marriage equality have asked for an “advisory” referendum.  Councilor David Catania reminded the council that the only time DC held such an advisory referendum was on December 21, 1865.  The subject of the referendum, whether or not former enslaved Africans should be able to vote, was defeated by 721 to 1 in Georgetown.  That’s right: one lone voter supported equal voting rights.  In the rest of the city, only 35 voters supported this right while 6591 opposed it.  Less than 1% of the electorate supported granting voting rights to African Americans. 

I’m not comparing the struggle of enslaved African Americans to that of LGBT Americans today.  What I am saying is that we have a history of failing miserably when we are asked to vote on the rights of those who society views as “less than.”  I don't know how Maine will turn out on Election Day.  What I do know is that the rights of Americans should not be on Maine's ballot.