tonight has been a sobering evening. i'll be able to write more on this tomorrow, but consider this:

i consider my sexual orientation to be straight, and i live in a state that allows same-sex marriages to take place. therefore, this question tonight on the maine ballot really doesn't apply to me:

"Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

but it matters. i am close to so many, being a former maine resident, who are directly affected by the outcome of this. and sure enough, it's looking as though hatred and backwards thinking are going to win out in this election.

it's times like this where i wish i could walk up to every "yes" voter and ask them, point blank, "hey, man. what did any gay or lesbian couple ever do to you personally? stop thinking about the Bible, stop thinking about the BS going around about curriculum changes in schools ... stop thinking about all of those things and think to yourself, what did any homosexual couple ever do to you that was so wrong?" i'll bet you ten bucks they wouldn't have much of an answer.

it's pretty pathetic to me that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders are still treated as second class citizens. worldwide, this often is not the case. i feel lucky enough to live in a state that accepts their right to wed and share a life together ... but i'm heartbroken that my friends and family in other states can't feel the same.