Conservative Christians
hailed results of Nov.3 voting, especially the defeat of gay marriage
legislation in Maine.
Mathew Staver, dean of
Liberty University School of Law, called the Maine decision, which overturned a
same-sex marriage law enacted earlier this year, a “huge victory” for
supporters of traditional marriage.
“Every time the citizens
have voted on marriage, they have always sided with natural marriage and
rejected same-sex marriage,” said Staver. “Maine dramatically illustrates the
will of the people, and politicians should wake up and listen.”
Stand for Marriage Maine, a group
that worked for the repeal of the law, was supported by the Roman Catholic
Diocese of Portland, Knights of Columbus and the Maine chapter of Concerned
Women of America.
Gay rights supporters were
disappointed in the Maine vote.
“As is too often the case,
fear and misinformation have stood in the way of justice,” said Peter Morales,
president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Conservatives also welcomed
the election of two Republican governors with ties to conservative Christian
organizations: Bob McDonnell in Virginia, an alumnus of Pat Robertson’s Regent
University, and Chris Christie in New Jersey, who was endorsed by FRC Action
PAC, the political action committee of the Family Research Council.
“Many factors played a role
in the outcome of yesterday’s elections, so it’s important not to exaggerate
the religious right’s influence,” said Barry Lynn, executive director of
Americans United for Separation of Church and State. “But at the same time,
Americans need to know that this movement’s leaders are still influential in
American politics.”
Despite the conservative
victories, supporters of gay rights in Michigan hailed a vote in Kalamazoo,
where city voters adopted an ordinance that includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals
and transgender people in anti-discrimination protections. A referendum in
Washington state that gives domestic partnerships many of the legal rights of
married couples appears headed for approval.