Iowa, Vermont, and....MAINE!

Yes, it looks like we might be next, folks. God bless the New Englanders' propensity for putting principle aside and doing the right thing. 

This morning, an open meeting was held in Augusta to discuss LD1020, a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Maine. EqualityMaine (who's just down the street from us) has been spearheading the movement, with great success. 

Nearly 4,000 people turned out for the meeting at the Augusta Civic Center. This was one of the more stellar quotes of the day (lifted from the Portland Press Herald's somewhat conservatively-tilted article):

“I believe the basis of our society is our families, when a man and woman unite as one, they become a family,” [Paul] Davis said. “When a man and woman come together, they create children. This can never occur with gay couples. It is impossible for sperm to turn to an egg or an egg to turn to a sperm.”

Do I really need to repeat the oft-mentioned childless or infertile couple paradox? Are my friends who are adopting for health reasons less "married" than my friends who have healthy babies? Or what if Simon and I choose not to have children? Can we still regard each other as "married" in the eyes of the law? Moreover, how dare Mr. Davis define "family" as an egg, sperm, and the man and woman who create and combine them? 

All I can say is that if someone I'd never met told me outright that I was not allowed to marry (not "be with," not "co-habitate with" -- but "marry") the man I love, some part of my life would never be complete. 

I can't ask my brother-in-law to suffer that fate. I can't ask my friends to do so. Why should they have to?

Anyone have a good reason? 'Cause I'm still waiting to hear one.