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Alex Steed of the Bangor Daily News liveblogged the events. Steven Bridges and Michael Snell were the first couple in line to marry at Portland City Hall (via Caroline Cornish):
Well, it’s past midnight and the earth has not ended as we know it because same-sex couples are getting marriage licenses in Maine. Congratulations to all of the couples! (Portland Press Herald):
Michael Snell and Steven Bridges emerged from City Hall early Saturday morning to ecstatic cheers from close to 300 people who gathered to celebrate Maine’s first same-sex weddings. With 15 couples waiting in the city clerk’s office for marriage licenses, Snell and Bridges became the first to exchange vows in the State of Maine Room, shortly after midnight. …The fact that Maine voters have now approved same-sex marriage has national significance, said David Farmer, spokesman for Mainers United for Marriage, the group that led this year’s campaign for gay marriage. “This is an amazing day for thousands of Maine families, and it’s an amazing time, because Maine has shown that voters will support allowing same-sex couples to marry,” Farmer said Friday night. “This gives hope and energy to states where voters have voted the other way.”
Unlike the few foolish photographers in Maryland who are too uncomfortable with the aesthetics of posing same-sex couples for weddings (as well as “Discover Annapolis” trolley operator Matt Grubbs, who has announced that he will not do business with same-sex couples on religious grounds), businesses in Maine are prepping for new biz and big bucks:
Business owners are hoping to see a rise in demand for such goods and services as legalized gay marriage arrives in Maine later this week, but the impact may take time to build as people plan their events. “I don’t think the floodgates will open and we’ll double our business. But even if it’s a small part of our business, we’re excited to be part of it,” said Dan Kennedy, owner of Harmon’s & Barton’s, Minott’s Flowers and Sawyer & Co. floral shops. In preparing for their Dec. 29 nuptials at Portland City Hall, Donna Galluzzo, 49, and Lisa Gorney, 45, made arrangements with vendors they knew would be supportive of gay weddings. “There’s definitely a factor of not wanting to go to a vendor that would have any issues. The wedding is kind of like coming out again — you never know how people will react,” Galluzzo said. “People have been as openly happy and gracious as they would be for any wedding. Happiness is contagious.”
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And finally — oh, damn. I’m rubbing it in again. Should I feel guilty posting this photo of Brian Brown of the National Organization for marriage bawling his eyes out as we celebrate marriage equality in Maine? Um. No.
(Taken after the NY legislature approved marriage equality; Brian’s watching his job security circle the bowl)
9 Comments
Meh. He wants you to post that photo. Why else would he have faked crying?
Reminds me of the casts of reality television shows.
Their voices goes all cry-ish and they wipe nonexistent mascara smears off their cheeks. You never see a single tear leave one of their eyes, though.
But they sure hope it makes good enough television drama to get them signed for another season.
Why would anyone even pretend to have that much emotional investment in denying other people’s rights? That’s really sort of sick.
I’m very happy for long-time good friends of mine who are getting married in Maryland sometime within the next few weeks. They’ve been together as a couple longer than a number of my heterosexual friends of a similar age. It delights me (and them) that they can finally get legally married.
As a btw: they sent me a photo of both of them in their Christmas card. I had to laugh as it was exactly like the kinds of photos our parents used to have taken by their churches (which is partly why my pal did it). As soon as I saw that photo, I knew they were gettin’ hitched.
Guess they found a photographer in MD who NO problem figuring out how to take their picture!
I agree: most likely faking it, so he can display his “dismay” to the
rubes“followers” he mis-leads with his self-righteously piety. blarghWe were having a laugh earlier related to the Maine elections…. we were wondering if “scores” of gay blacks no one had ever seen were showing up to get married
I think Maine comes from a libertarian slant on social issues rather than a liberal or progressive slant, but as a resident of MA I’m still proud of my fellow New Englanders from Down East.
SPEAKING as an actual lifelong Mainer, we are actually pretty liberal, especially on the coast. My neighbors Katie and Barrett got married last night at city hall, and congrats to them.
(ok, I’m a little touchy about people from Massachussetts making pronouncements about Maine)
OK — that’s funny.