Maine's Senators Stay Quiet on Marriage Ballot Initiative

by Michael Jones · 2009-08-07 09:28:00 UTC
Topics:

Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe

Looking for two high profile politicians to come out against efforts in Maine to take away marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples?  If you are, don't go looking to Senators Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins.  So far both have decided to stay silent, while conservative activists in Maine ramp up their efforts to strip civil marriage rights away from same-sex couples.

Senator Susan Collins even went so far to say that the ballot initiative really wasn't any of her business.  Here's what Sovo.com quotes her as saying:

Asked whether she would be taking a position on the referendum [to eliminate marriage equality rights], Collins replied: "I'm not. I don't get involved in state issues."

That's unfortunate.  Both Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe have been very good advocates for the civil rights of LGBT folks, going so far as signing on as lead co-sponsors this week for a Senate bill intended to prohibit workplace discrimination against LGBT people.  (Both are also on the record against any effort to launch a federal marriage amendment.)  But instead, both Senators are remaining quiet on what may be the biggest civil rights issue to affect Maine's gay and lesbian population.

For Collins to say she doesn't get involved in state issues is also somewhat perplexing.  Yes, she represents the state in the federal government.  But she's certainly able to stake out issues on questions facing Maine voters.  Talk about a missed opportunity.

When Proposition 8 was before voters, both Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer staked out terrific positions on behalf of the LGBT population of California.  Here was Feinstein's take on Prop 8:

Proposition 8 would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. I oppose it as a matter of equality and fairness.

And here was Boxer's take:

Prop 8 is a statewide ballot initiative that would put discrimination against same-sex couples into the California State Constitution. It is unfair, unnecessary, and wrong.

It's a shame that neither Senators Susan Collins or Olympia Snowe seem prepared to offer the same kind of commentary for Maine's upcoming ballot initiative.

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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