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Gay marriage approved by popular votes for first time in US election Gay marriage approved in two states on a good night for US liberals
(35 minutes later)
It was a good night for Barack Obama. It was a good night for Democrats. But, perhaps just as strikingly, election night 2012 was a vindicatory coup for social liberals. From Washington to Wisconsin, Maine to Missouri, from Colorado across to Indiana and Maryland, the ballot box returned votes that provoked joy among many progressives – and had Tea Party members spluttering into their Impeach Obama mugs.It was a good night for Barack Obama. It was a good night for Democrats. But, perhaps just as strikingly, election night 2012 was a vindicatory coup for social liberals. From Washington to Wisconsin, Maine to Missouri, from Colorado across to Indiana and Maryland, the ballot box returned votes that provoked joy among many progressives – and had Tea Party members spluttering into their Impeach Obama mugs.
In Maine and Maryland, residents made their states the first to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote in a double-breakthrough that ended a losing streak that had seen equal marriage bids rejected in the more than 30 states which had voted on them. The north-western state of Washington was also weighing a similar initiative, with 52% supporting it as of 1am ET, while in Minnesota voters looked set to reject an initiative to enshrine in the state's constitution a definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman. In Maine and Maryland, residents made their states the first to approve same-sex marriage by popular vote in a double breakthrough which ended a losing streak that had seen equal marriage bids rejected in the more than 30 states which had voted on them. The north-western state of Washington was also weighing a similar initiative, with 52% supporting it as of 1am ET, while in Minnesota voters looked set to reject an initiative to enshrine in the state's constitution a definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman.
Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay-rights group, said the two confirmed victories – which will make the east coast states the seventh and eighth states to allow same-sex couples to marry – reflected a turning point in attitudes. "For the first time, voters in Maine and Maryland voted to allow loving couples to make lifelong commitments through marriage – forever taking away the rightwing talking point that marriage equality couldn't win on the ballot," he said. Chad Griffin of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group, said the two confirmed victories – which will make the east coast states the seventh and eighth states to allow same-sex couples to marry – reflected a turning point in attitudes. "For the first time, voters in Maine and Maryland voted to allow loving couples to make lifelong commitments through marriage – forever taking away the rightwing talking point that marriage equality couldn't win on the ballot," he said.
Those shifting attitudes were eloquently expressed in a different way in Wisconsin, where voters elected a Democrat, Tammy Baldwin, as the first openly gay member of the Senate. The 50-year-old's sexual orientation was scarcely a part of her campaign, but, as she gave a victory speech before roaring crowds, Baldwin – who also became the state's first female Senator – acknowledged the landmark nature of her win. Those shifting attitudes were eloquently expressed in a different way in Wisconsin, where voters elected a Democrat, Tammy Baldwin, as the first openly gay member of the Senate. The 50-year-old's sexual orientation was scarcely a part of her campaign, but, as she gave a victory speech before roaring crowds, Baldwin – who also became the state's first female senator – acknowledged the landmark nature of her win.
"I am well aware that I will have the honour to be Wisconsin's first woman US senator," she said. "And I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate, but I didn't run to make history. I ran to make a difference. But in choosing me to tackle those problems the people of Wisconsin have made history.""I am well aware that I will have the honour to be Wisconsin's first woman US senator," she said. "And I am well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate, but I didn't run to make history. I ran to make a difference. But in choosing me to tackle those problems the people of Wisconsin have made history."
Happily for feminists all over the US, Baldwin was far from the only candidate to smash through the political glass ceiling. As the results came in, it became clear that the 113th Congress would have a record number of female Senators – at least 19 – including one, Mazie Hirono, who will be the upper chamber's first Asian American woman, and the progressive taxation advocate Elizabeth Warren. In Illinois, meanwhile, the Democrat Tammy Duckworth became the first disabled woman to be elected to Congress. Happily for feminists all over the US, Baldwin was far from the only candidate to smash through the political glass ceiling. As the results came in, it became clear that the 113th Congress would have a record number of female senators – at least 19 – including one, Mazie Hirono, who will be the upper chamber's first Asian American woman, and the progressive taxation advocate Elizabeth Warren. In Illinois, meanwhile, the Democrat Tammy Duckworth became the first disabled woman to be elected to Congress.
In New Hampshire, the news was particularly inspiring: an unprecedented run of results made it the first state ever to have an all-woman federal delegation and governor. Senate incumbents Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte are joined by three newly elected women: Maggie Hassan, governor-elect, and congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter and Ann McLane Kuster. Stephanie Schriock, president of the campaign group Emily's List, said: "Emily's List is so proud of New Hampshire tonight … Carol, Annie, and Maggie are exactly the kinds of leaders New Hampshire women and families need to push back against the Republican war on women and build a more progressive America."In New Hampshire, the news was particularly inspiring: an unprecedented run of results made it the first state ever to have an all-woman federal delegation and governor. Senate incumbents Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte are joined by three newly elected women: Maggie Hassan, governor-elect, and congresswomen Carol Shea-Porter and Ann McLane Kuster. Stephanie Schriock, president of the campaign group Emily's List, said: "Emily's List is so proud of New Hampshire tonight … Carol, Annie, and Maggie are exactly the kinds of leaders New Hampshire women and families need to push back against the Republican war on women and build a more progressive America."
While they greeted the Baldwin and New Hampshire results with delight, many women's rights and pro-choice campaigners will have also allowed themselves a wry smile at the verdict of the ballot box in Missouri and Indiana, where two male Republican candidates whose campaigns came unstuck after they made inflammatory remarks about rape and abortion were defeated. Todd Akin, who claimed in August that women's bodies could fight "legitimate rape", lost to the incumbent, Claire McCaskill, in Missouri, while the Tea Party darling Richard Mourdock – who said that pregnancy resulting from rape was "something that God intended to happen" – also lost.While they greeted the Baldwin and New Hampshire results with delight, many women's rights and pro-choice campaigners will have also allowed themselves a wry smile at the verdict of the ballot box in Missouri and Indiana, where two male Republican candidates whose campaigns came unstuck after they made inflammatory remarks about rape and abortion were defeated. Todd Akin, who claimed in August that women's bodies could fight "legitimate rape", lost to the incumbent, Claire McCaskill, in Missouri, while the Tea Party darling Richard Mourdock – who said that pregnancy resulting from rape was "something that God intended to happen" – also lost.
In another intriguing victory for social liberals, two states became the first in the US to approve the use of recreational marijuana. In Colorado, voters passed amendment 64, legalising the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older; in Washington, their counterparts gave the seal of approval to initiative 502. A similar attempt in Oregon failed.In another intriguing victory for social liberals, two states became the first in the US to approve the use of recreational marijuana. In Colorado, voters passed amendment 64, legalising the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older; in Washington, their counterparts gave the seal of approval to initiative 502. A similar attempt in Oregon failed.
The results, welcomed by campaigners who want the substance to be regulated in the same way as alcohol, provoked a cautious reaction from the Colorado governor, John Hickenlooper, who warned that marijuana use remained illegal under federal law. "The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," he said in a written statement. "This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."The results, welcomed by campaigners who want the substance to be regulated in the same way as alcohol, provoked a cautious reaction from the Colorado governor, John Hickenlooper, who warned that marijuana use remained illegal under federal law. "The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will," he said in a written statement. "This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don't break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."
Those liberals celebrating a night to remember, then, better stick to the champagne. Those liberals celebrating a night to remember, then, had better stick to the champagne.