Same-Sex Marriage Gains Cheer Gay Rights Advocates
Source: NY Times
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Voters in Maine and Maryland approved same-sex marriage on a day of election results that jubilant gay rights advocates called a historic turning point, the first time that marriage for gay men and lesbians has been approved at the ballot box.
In Minnesota, in another first, voters rejected a proposal to amend the State Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, a measure that has been enshrined in the constitutions of 30 states. A state law barring same-sex marriage remains on the books there, but with the defeat of the amendment, the door remains open to change by the legislature or the courts.
While six states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriage through judicial or legislative decisions, voters had rejected it more than 30 times in a row.
Final results in Washington, the fourth state voting Tuesday on marriage equality, were not available Wednesday morning, but with half the votes reported, the proposal to legalize gay marriage had a small majority.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/same-sex-marriage-gains-cheer-gay-rights-advocates.html?partner=EXCITE&ei=5043&_r=0
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