美國除了將舉行總統大選之外,有四州對於同志婚姻合法化的議題亦同步於11月6日舉行公民投票(ballot)。最近AfterEllen介紹這些同志團體的公益廣告,但我們對這些公投的內容其實不清楚,我將資料整理一下。
Maine 緬因州
2012年初由平權團體 The Maine Freedom to Marry Coalition,向州政府提交超過十萬個公民連署,獲准在這次大選提出公決議題
Question 1:
主題為:“An Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom.”立法允許同性婚姻合法您並保障宗教自由
州民需要決定同意與否的議題如下:"Do you want to allow the state of Maine to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples?" (你願意允許緬因州提供婚姻證書給同性伴侶?)
( )yes
( )no
Maryland 馬里蘭州
如果緬因州像是取得態度上的共識(ballot question),馬里蘭州則是爭取法案的實行。他們已取得該州參議院核可的法案 Civil Marriage Protection Act提供同性伴侶合法保障,但遭到該州眾議院退回再議,經過修改,讓宗教人士或團體有權利拒絕執行同性婚姻儀式或是拒絕提供場地。這次Same-Sex Marriage Referendum是屬於法案公投,
Question 6讓大眾決定要不要執行這樣的法案。
州民需要決定同意與否的議題如下:
Referendum Petition (公投請願)
Establishes that Maryland’s civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying; protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs; affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith; and provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs. (馬里蘭州提供同性伴侶合法婚姻證書;牧師因違反其教義執行特殊的結婚儀式可獲保障;各家宗教可自主認定那些教徒可依其教義成婚;宗教團體及組織有權拒絕為違反其宗教信仰之婚姻儀式及慶典拒絕提供服務或待遇。)
( )For the Referred Law
( )Against the Referred Law
Minnesota 明尼蘇達州
在現行Minnesota Constitution其中Section 13.對婚姻定義為一男一女的結合:“Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota.”。
這次提出州憲法修正案Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Amendmen,挑戰這個定義,在本次公投對大眾再一次徵詢表決。
州民需要決定同意與否的議題如下:"Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman." (同意婚姻純為一男一女的結合)
( )YES
( )NO
Wahington 華盛頓州
華盛頓州目前已提供合法的同性伴侶制(domestic partnerships),今年更進一步爭取為同性婚姻合法化。此次為法案公投 Washington Same-Sex Marriage Referendum。與馬里蘭州的情況有點類似,在訴求同性婚姻合法化之際,同時也必須面對宗教團體有權拒絕執行同性婚姻儀式。
州民需要決定同意與否的議題如下:The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill.This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.
[ ] Approved
[ ] Rejected
在AfterEllen所介紹同志團體公益廣告,大部份訴求同志的家庭和所有人的家庭一樣,因此希望爭取同等的同性婚姻權利。這種策略是安全牌,拍太多,會讓人覺得千篇一律,不會引起注意和思考。從廣告效應的角度,我偏好以下愛爾蘭這支廣告,突顯同性婚姻必須取得旁人同意的荒謬性。竟然要讓不相干的人可以決定你的婚姻是件荒謬的事,為什麼不讓它趕快合法化呢?