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| Same sex marriage ballot initiatives: voters in strong backing for equality | Same sex marriage ballot initiatives: voters in strong backing for equality |
| (5 months later) | |
| America, which has slowly changed its attitude in favor of same sex marriage in the past decade, displayed active signs of that shift on election day with a sweep of ballot initiative victories for gay-rights advocates. Four states had same-sex marriage measures put to voters, with our own Harry J Enten predicting historic wins in three of the contests. Here's how the states voted: | America, which has slowly changed its attitude in favor of same sex marriage in the past decade, displayed active signs of that shift on election day with a sweep of ballot initiative victories for gay-rights advocates. Four states had same-sex marriage measures put to voters, with our own Harry J Enten predicting historic wins in three of the contests. Here's how the states voted: |
| Maine | Maine |
Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage Result: Yes, 53% to 47% How we called it: Yes, by 5 to 15 percentage points | Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage Result: Yes, 53% to 47% How we called it: Yes, by 5 to 15 percentage points |
| Maryland | Maryland |
Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage, and excuses religious institutions who refuse to perform the ceremony Result: For, 52% to 48% How we called it: For, by 1 to 10 percentage points | Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage, and excuses religious institutions who refuse to perform the ceremony Result: For, 52% to 48% How we called it: For, by 1 to 10 percentage points |
| Minnesota | Minnesota |
Measure: "Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman" Result: No, 51% to 48% How we called it: Indecisive, from Yes (banning same-sex marriage) by 2 points to No by 8 points | Measure: "Recognition of Marriage Solely Between One Man and One Woman" Result: No, 51% to 48% How we called it: Indecisive, from Yes (banning same-sex marriage) by 2 points to No by 8 points |
| Washington | Washington |
Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage, and excuses religious institutions who refuse to perform the ceremony Result: Approve, 52% to 48% How we called it: Approve, by 5 to 20 percentage points | Measure: Legalizing same-sex marriage, and excuses religious institutions who refuse to perform the ceremony Result: Approve, 52% to 48% How we called it: Approve, by 5 to 20 percentage points |
| Last night was a very positive result for same-sex couples across the board, including in Minnesota where a measure sought to ban same-sex marriage via an amendment in the state's constitution: | Last night was a very positive result for same-sex couples across the board, including in Minnesota where a measure sought to ban same-sex marriage via an amendment in the state's constitution: |
| "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." | "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." |
| (Given these results, expect the Guardian to amend its comprehensive state by state infographic on gay rights.) | (Given these results, expect the Guardian to amend its comprehensive state by state infographic on gay rights.) |
| Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, there was another triumph for the gay community. Voters elected Tammy Baldwin to the Senate, making the Democrat the first openly gay senator to serve: | Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, there was another triumph for the gay community. Voters elected Tammy Baldwin to the Senate, making the Democrat the first openly gay senator to serve: |
| "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 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 ran to make a difference. But in choosing me to tackle those problems the people of Wisconsin have made history. |
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