Date: November 7th 2012
On this day with SHAC, Maryland, Maine and Washington approved gay marriage. This milestone marked the first time that marriage rights had been extended to same-sex couples due to popular vote. At the time, though six states had passed new legislation on the marriage rights of same-sex couples, in more than 30 states, voters were still passing constitutional bans on the same rights and legislation. Many, including pro-gay marriage rights group The Four’s leader, Brian Ellner, were proud of the American people for showing their support of fairness and equality at the ballot box. As well as being a historical moment in the ballot sense, it also marked Barack Obama as the first American President to openly support gay marriage in his campaign.
In Maryland, the measure passed 52 per cent to 48 per cent. In Maine, voters supported the proposal 53 per cent to 47 per cent, with 75 per cent of precincts reporting. And in Washington, a gay marriage measure was approved 52 per cent to 48 per cent. In Minnesota at this time, a vote that would define marriage as a strictly heterosexual union was voted down, 48 per cent to 52 per cent. Before this date in 2012, the idea that same-sex couples would be able to get married and be included in the rights that heterosexual unions already had was a long fought-for dream. However, with the successful completion of the first popular vote to pass same-sex marriage, the beginning of a new trend in marriage laws and definitions emerged, and paved the way for the equality that is seen on this present day.