Yesterday, Maryland passed its marriage equality bill. Jim Burroway warns that the fight isn't over:
The bill won’t go into effect until January, 2013, allowing opponents enough time to collect 55,736 signatures to place a referendum on the November ballot overturning the law. Polls show that such a ballot measure would be very close.
Similarly, voters in Maine will get another chance to vote for marriage equality. Andy Towle explains:
Voters rejected a similar measure in 2009. This one has specific religious exemptions carved out. If Maine voters approve the measure, it would be the first time a ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage has been successful in any state.
Earlier this week, David Mixner noted that five states may vote this year to ban or allow marriage equality. I think we should relish the fight because every time we get to debate this, even when we lose, we move the needle slowly in our direction. But it troubles me how on issues like this, representative democracy is being slowly eroded. It seems to me that precisely on issue like civil rights for minorities, if the courts are deemed too distant from public opinion to be relied on, then pure direct democracy which empowers the tyranny of the majority is too close.
America was designed as a republic, not a democracy. This is something Chris Christie doesn't seem to understand.
(Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
The Dish 
