“A Milestone Year” = Chad Griffin, Human Rights Campaign President

What a year!  The re-election of President Barack Obama who initially said his position on same-sex marriage was ‘evolving’and later altered his stance to full-blown endorsement of gay marriage… Tammy Bladwin  from Wisconsin becomes the first openly lesbian Senator. Across the United States, openly gay legislators and senators won seats, including a transgender legislator from New Hampshire.

Voters Approve same-sex marriage in Maine, Washington, and Maryland

Maine

This state, like Maryland and Washington, voted on whether to place a ban on gay marriage in the State Constitution. A 2009 referendum quashed a gay marriage law enacted by the legislative, as in California in 2008.  Over the summer, enough signatures were collected to schedule the vote.

This is the first time that gay marriage has won at the polls by a popular vote.  Dating back to 1998, same- sex marriage has been rejected in all thirty-two states that have held popular votes on the issue.

Maryland and Washington

In gay marriage,  laws were approved by law makers and signed by governments earlier this year. However, opponents collected enough signatures to challenge the laws. The most expensive campaign for gay marriage was launched in Washington State, where supporters of Referendum 74 to endorse same-sex marriage raised nearly $11 million, with the help of Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com.  Earlier this year, Starbucks, a supporter of gay marriage, fought boycotts by marriage equality opponents.

Minnesota

Voters rejected a ban on same-sex marriage.  The question was whether the state would join thirty others in placing in its Constitution a ban on gay marriage.  Although the ban was defeated, same-sex marriage would remain illegal in Minnesota under the statue.

Conservatives were trying to pass an amendment to the State Constitution to prevent a new legislature from reversing it. ( The legislation that was up for vote would have made it constitutionally more difficult for judges or lawmakers to overturn the ban.)

Opponents of Same-Sex Marriage

Brian Brown, the president of the National Organization for Marriage, acknowledges that opponents outspent three to one in the state ballot campaigns.  He says, “ through we are disappointed over these losses, we remain faithful to our mission and committed to the cause of preserving marriage as God designed it.”  The Roman Catholic Church affiliates  and wealthy  individuals such as Frank Schubert, a California consultant, orchestrated campaigns to combat same-sex marriage.

“Tuesday’s Elections Signify An Historic Shift” – Griffin

The election was a turning point.  Public opinion has definitely shifted.  Recent polls show that a majority of Americans support same-sex marriage.

The name of states with gay marriage increased by 50% overnight.  Still, as Brian Brown points out, “ it bolsters our case.  It’s very difficult to say you need a federal resolution of this question.  if states are resolving it for themselves.  Adam Umhoefer, the executive director of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, says that “fundamental constitutional rights like marriage, should never be subjected to a popular vote. (see http://”States’ Votes for Gay Marriage Are Timely, With Justices Ready to Weigh Cases, ” The New York Times, 11-8-12.