Interfaith Rally Held In Bangor Supporting Gay Marriage

When Governor Baldacci signed the same sex marriage bill in May those who supported it rejoiced but they also knew they would have a fight on their hands. Cindy Leiffer of Orrington supports gay marriage. "We were elated, we felt very proud of Maine, proud of the Governor and the legislature for passing that," says Leiffer, "we knew there would be opposition and that it would be on the ballot and sort of braced ourselves for the fight that's going on."

Today a statewide rally was held, called the In-terfaith March. It brought folks together from all denominations in support of gay marriage. Reverand Mark Worth came all the way from Castine to participate. "Well we have more than 200 religious leaders, clergy, rabbis, pastors, across the state who have signed statements saying that they support "no on #1" that we want to preserve the right of same sex couples to marry and that it's a good thing," he says. Rabbi Darah Lerner of Congregation Beth El in Bangor agrees. "I think it really points to the importance of this not just as a civil rights issue but as a spiritual issue," she says, "an issue of holiness and an issue of committment and an issue of values that religious denominations share like stability of families and the importance of raising kids in a loving committed relationship."

The event had everything from musical entertainment to testimonials from same sex couples. Those here felt that a rally of this size shows how far maine has come in a very short time. "If you had asked me a year and a half ago if we would be where we are right now i wouldn't have believed it, i am thrilled to see this kind of support for fairness and equality,"
said Reverand Worth.

The people here also understand and respect the right of the opposition to bring this issue to the voters. "Well we support the idea that we should be able to take issues to the public vote," says Rabbi Lerner, "that's an important civil responsibility here in America and that they did this that's fine but the issue is there's lots of us who believe that marriage is an important civil right that we should all express and we will all be voting."

This issue will ultimately be decide by the voters in November.

Print this Story

Kudos to the inter-faith rally for marriage equality. It's time Maine.

Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA.

All summer long I officiated for couples who came to CT to wed from all across the country, and in many cases they brought their families and friends to celebrate with them. Congrats to all.

Let's remember that marriage is firstly a civil matter in America, as marriage licenses are issued by and recorded in town halls not church halls or mosques or temples.

And to the marriage police and sexually phobic, please find something else to do with your time because life's just to short. Find love.

The problem here is that being gay is a sin and all these different denominations should read the king James Bible.Look up first Corinthians chapter6 verse 9 and it will say,do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God?Do not be deceived;Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulters nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. You preachers or what ever kind of church you are SHAME ON YOU for supporting this

I read about you in the newspaper.

Whatever you think, you will not be able to change God's Word and will one day have to pay the price for not believing what God has written.
Leviticus 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Romans 1:22-27

V22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, V23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

V24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

V25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed for ever. Amen.

V26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

V27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet

Religion aside... marriage has been a man and a woman joining together for over 4000 years of written and recorded history. Now, all of a sudden, those 4000 years of tradition and working model is gone. It makes me truly wonder if civilization has been wrong all that time, or if people today are just taking a different twist on things. A union of some kind would be created, but it's not the same as marriage. Marriage is something different.

I just can't dismiss the history behind marriage in civilization from ancient times til now. I'm not ready to change the definition that has been understood globally to meet the needs of a small segment that seeks to unwravel all that. Call it a union if you wish, but I don't see it as marriage.

Here we are with more negative comments from the Religious Right (as I like to call them, "Taliban Lite"). While it certainly is encouraging to hear support from all corners, including normal, enlightened religious orders, I believe this issue really is one of a State legal issue.

In order to secure the legal rights enjoyed by straight couples through the use of the marriage license, gay people need to be able to be married in the eyes of the law. A marriage license is a contract executed by the State and it also is an OPTIONAL religious ceremony. The only part we need concern ourselves with is that of the legal aspect. The State does not give a hoot if you have or not a religious wedding ceremony. A ceremony performed by a Justice of the Peace (no mention of God in it anywhere) is just fine.

With this marriage license, duly executed by the State, then all the rights assumed and presumed by straight married people, are also granted to gay couples. And, that is only reasonable. We want to protect our children, have the right to make medical decisions, file jointly on our taxes, retain custody of our children if our spouse dies, and many, many other rights. I do not feel that is too much to ask.

And, to the commenters who drone on endlessly about with quotes from the bible, you make the assumption that I happen to believe in your particular religion that uses your particular bible. There are thousands of religions out there. Yours is one of many. No doubt, you will tell me that your religion, of course, is the only TRUE religion. I am certain Osama feels the same way. Here is a newflash for you: I do not believe either of you. Oh, and I will sleep well tonight, so you need not worry about my Eternal Soul burning in the Fires of Hell for all Eternity. If that is the case, at least I won't have shovel any more snow.

To everyone: Thanks for Voting NO on 1 !!!

This law will not force any church to perform marriages they disagree with in their church. Until such time as we have Sharia Law or its Right-Wing Christian equivalent, law in this country will not be based on what one church, or one group of churches, or an entire religion, says is a sin or not. Those people who want to live in a country where the law is dictated by what is written in a holy book would no doubt feel more comfortable moving to Saudi Arabia; the rest of us who love freedom and the Constitution aren't going anywhere.

6 comments so far. Add Yours!

Comments

Joseph A. Mustich, Justice of the Peace 10/18/2009 05:14 pm

straigt person 10/18/2009 06:47 pm

Rev Donald Spitz 10/18/2009 07:15 pm

Rob 10/18/2009 10:02 pm

ChuckG 10/18/2009 10:02 pm

an average Mainer 10/19/2009 06:50 am