I didn't realize there were so many events in the gay rights area this year.

This is an issue where there is a significant sea-change occurring when it comes to public opinion. It is becoming far more acceptable to embrace it. 10, even 5 years ago, being for gay marriage was outside the mainstream. Today, politicians are looking at the political calculus somewhat differently and shifting their views to reflect the new reality.

The Maine gay marriage bill lost narrowly in a referendum earlier this month. The issue has yet to pass in any state when its put directly to the voters, but given the trends, that is likely to change. Looking at the exit polling data from the Maine race, it appears as if younger voters are far more willing to embrace this than older ones. It's only a matter of time before the younger generations begin to exert their electoral clout more, thus guaranteeing that more legislation of this nature will pass.

What's important about this bill is that it doesn't force the church to accept gay marriage, even if the individual parishioners don't back it. It guarantees gays their right to marry under state civil law.

Even though populist bigotry won in the referendum, this was a step in the right direction.

Ultimately - should there be an honest Supreme Court in our future - gender equality may prevail.

Maine voters overturned gay marriage last week. I think it's pretty obvious that politicians in Maine and everywhere else need to focus on urgent things like the economy and healthcare instead of social issues that are going to get reversed in referendums.

Hmmm! It seems that all the trendy people were voting for this in the Maine legislature but the scruffy hoi polloi voters threw it out in a referendum. Hilarious. Democracy is a real bitch.

As I write this, it is the highest rated item on the list, THE most significant event of 2009. Correct me if I'm wrong, but are we not watching Rome burns while we fiddle like Nero with Obama about to take over and socialize our health care, emptying the entire treasury and giving it to democrat-friendly behemoths, rendering our currency worthless, destroying our once mighty industries, playing kissy-face with our enemies, turning our government over to his many czars?

But you people think one small state changing the centuries old definition of marriage is the biggest event of the year?

It's good to find some politically aware people with some perspective, isn't it? Who says our public schools are dumbing down the populace?

This is significant, but doesn't affect me for a number of reasons: 1. I don't live in Vermont 2. I am not gay 3. I don't plan on ever becoming gay 4. I don't know anyone who is gay

This is extremely significant for the gay community and for those living in Maine. Being a part of neither of these groups, I don't think it is one of the bigger stories of the year considering Iowa already beat them to the punch recently. While there are many states that will not pass this kind of legislation, I think this shows a trend towards greater acceptance of gay marriage among different groups in this country.

Score one for civil rights.

(Bring on the disagrees )

Baldacci made a few statements that identify the root issue at hand from a legislative standpoint:

"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions. I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage.

Article I in the Maine Constitution states that 'no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor be denied the equal protection of the laws, nor be denied the enjoyment of that person's civil rights or be discriminated against.'

This new law does not force any religion to recognize a marriage that falls outside of its beliefs. It does not require the church to perform any ceremony with which it disagrees. Instead, it reaffirms the separation of Church and State.

It guarantees that Maine citizens will be treated equally under Maine's civil marriage laws, and that is the responsibility of government."

We've discussed this ad nauseum lately in light of Vermont and a few other states so I'll leave it at that :)