11/04/09 Jay Speaks with Paul Madore, Director of the Maine Grassroots Coalition, re: Yesterday's Vote on Same Sex Marriage

" You several afternoons to do six -- six non."

" that yeah. No gay marriage. Proposal or law. Has ever been and approved. By voters. Every place and and it's only five states out of fifty and of people of other impressions. But of the five states five states only in which -- pain now do you know that. No gay marriage. Proposal or law. Has ever been and approved. By voters. Every place and and it's only five states out of fifty and of people of other impressions. But of the five states five states only in which gay marriage does exist all of them in New England by the way. They have been. -- established by virtue. Of a legislature. Governor or court it has never with stood at the ballot box if you will. And all the more reason today we're our we're enthusiastic to welcome Paul my door. He's with the main grassroots coalition defending traditional marriage. In Maine and therefore is considered the did you know there's always a winner and loser in politics and last night provided us with bolt. The winners would have to include -- the door and he is our compatriots. Mr. Brodeur welcome to the show."

" Yet accurate thanks for the impatient."

" What started this what what got it going. I mean who who are you guys who are yet not."

" Well it's the grass -- coalition has been on the ground fighting a sexual orientation law since 1992. We we we -- Lewiston by a margin of 67% that we went on to defend. The -- a law which we helped to put -- That the defense to reject me. Yet it was Clinton -- the demands of marriage -- that it was we you know we we petitioned the legislature we got about some of the 5000 signatures. Submitted to the secretary of State's office and we put -- on the ballot. The legislature opted to be able internally are not senate to the voters that was the tactical move way back in 95. They knew that a public vote on this -- expressed a strong sentiment. You know four you know or marriage and -- want that to be an obstruction in in future years and it proved to be that prophetic."

" All -- adore you in Maine had. A temporary is I guess a temporary provision. To honor gay marriage same sex I'm sorry I -- that that's -- I should just keep it neutral to same sex marriage. And what the referendum was about yesterday was do we do we verify do we validate that -- we toss it out. And your group was for tossing and out."

" Right right we have. That the sexual orientation lies made it legal for them to request and -- marriage but that all the law westerners and obstructions and they doubted that normal log."

" got -- all the technicality when I'm after here is and I appreciate the fact what I'm after years. Why you personally. Why is it important to you in your family that same sex partners. And domestic arrangements not be called a recognized as marriage."

" It's it's incredibly important this was that this was -- An attack is apparently an attack against the church more importantly he can't have a fairly stable and we without that the defense of the church the Christian church so let's go to --"

" The church how is not an attack I understand it might be an affront."

" Because -- it -- that it -- because it comes out of pocket camera -- at the way to the legal system to force the acceptance of homosexual marriage. Of the homosexual lifestyle Soledad it is because it decline the church was speaking out against the."

" So if this were to become law than let's say the Catholic Church by way of example would not be able to preach against its theological. By --"

" Well because it would be viewed as as as hostility towards that on the actual culture and the homosexual person. If this happens systematically all of it happened in Massachusetts. Where individuals who lost their job without without protection from -- from -- Labor -- source state laws protecting your employment because of there because of their religious beliefs."

" I will hold onto a little bit confused the EU say the church an example you used was the church a church would not be able to preach in favor. Of of traditional marriages."

" Go to the also a practical effects you know you can you can only look at those you can justify those claims by looking in practical terms of what the law -- It has the weight and an intimidation of the legal system to force the acceptance in the case of of same sex marriage it also paves the way or. All the sexual correct ones in the schools and occupational pixel indoctrination and and that's what part of the campaign we've really got to the to the front burner well. And it we make that it is about three weeks and that's the back cause BS on want to get help the -- on one."

" I can and then that I certainly I -- by the way I'm I'm fairly. Inflicted on the issues -- the you know. I basically believe that I don't think marriage the state ought to be involved much in the state I mean the state ought to be involved in marriage in any case moved within your body. But I. I also I'm curious to ask you what of the people who say. Hey we don't understand how it threatens you is a family. For same sex partners to your regards -- is married and beat. Is it not a fundamental. Though controversial maybe it not a fundamental civil right of them to be able to say. We're married."

" Well let it that is why I gave that that brief. Look into the interstate logs statutory law sexual orientation -- I have printed. -- implement actual that individuals. It's made -- suspect -- negate the right to ask. For all these people rights and privileges afforded other classes -- which would be heterosexuals it's about wiping out. -- matter and -- because their because they have that protection. You know any kind of an expression of of opposition newspaper regarding homosexual. Culture lifestyle. So what's the parts and that the a woman's sexuality would be it would be viewed by the state has been as an act of hostility -- that's happening currently today in Massachusetts. It's happening in various parts of the country we are what what what these laws are in place."

" I appreciate your appearing today and and telling this this story from the front lines. I will say this in leaving you all I would say I happen to think that it is my opinion. I think the strongest possible defense. Of your position. Is is oddly enough for procedural argument and that is in no states. Were gay marriage is legal. Or let me put another way in no state has the same sex marriage ever survived the ballot box. There have been 31. State referendum. On -- gay marriage. When given to the voters when presented to the voters he has lost 31 out of 31 times. The reason for my conflict on this issue Paul is that no I see this is civil rights a fundamental civil rights issue on the one hand. I also think the state ought not be involved with the anybody's marriage one where the other whether there mariner penguin or their same sex lover on the penguins reach huge majorities are we -- But the fact is. 31 times have voters in 31 states being given the opportunity to say essentially live and let live. And 31 out of 31 times they have said no. And I do you have if I do have this fundamental belief that the people. Other state ought to be able to determine. These things for themselves that that's what democracy is all about. The thing that no laws at me though is. If you see this as a civil right can you put a civil rights on the ballot to be taken away. Paula thank you for the report from the front lines I'm Jay Severin 969. When we return in a moment any reaction you might have to this. And we return and complete the top ten political takeaways from yesterday's 96 not. Boston talk."