先前介紹今年美國大選四州舉行同志婚姻合法化的公投結果出爐,
同性婚姻合法化全面獲勝,雖然票數差距不大,但是意義重大,對於美國其他州,甚至其他國家都有鼓舞作用。
Maine 緬因州:支持同性婚姻合法化
公投議題:"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 275,662(53.49%)
( )no 239,696 (46.51%)
Maryland 馬里蘭州:支持同性婚姻合法化
公投議題:(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 905,790 (50.9%)
( )Against the Referred Law 873,783 (49.1%)
Minnesota 明尼蘇達州:支持婚姻不限一男一女
公投議題:"Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman."(同意婚姻純為一男一女的結合)
( )YES 539,099 (46.46%)
( )NO 571,739 (53.54%)
Wahington 華盛頓州:支持同性婚姻合法化
公投議題:由既有的同性伴侶制爭取為同性婚姻合法化。同性婚姻合法化之際,同時宗教團體有權拒絕執行同性婚姻儀式。
[ ] Approved 51.78% (977,369)
[ ] Rejected 48.21% (909,725)
歐巴馬在勝選演說的結尾前,提到每個人不論是什麼背景,「只要努力就能成功」的美式一貫主張,這次把同志也包含在內。我在替美國人感動之餘,不禁感慨,這已是時代的浪潮了。
America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunities and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founding, the idea that
if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, abled, disabled, gay or straight. (Cheers, applause.) You can make it here in America if you're willing to try.
另外恭喜Tammy Baldwin當選,成為第一位公開同志身份的參議員。