Marriage form updated for gender neutrality
11/5/09 | 9 comments

Marriage form updated for gender neutrality


By Eric Russell
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KEVIN MILLER
Several hundred supporters of same-sex marriage gathered on the steps of Portland City Hall on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, one day after Maine voters repealed the state's same-sex marriage law. Leaders of the No on 1 campaign said they were disappointed by the results but vowed to continue fighting in Maine for marriage equality for same-sex couples.(Bangor Daily News photo by Kevin Miller)

AUGUSTA, Maine — State officials on Wednesday lamented the unfortunate timing of an updated marriage license form sent recently to Maine municipalities that seemed to be preparing for the same-sex marriage law to be upheld.

Many municipal officials, including Don Strout in the Penobscot County town of Corinth, received a letter on Monday, the eve of Election Day, from the state Department of Health and Human Services. The letter was accompanied by a copy of Maine’s license and certificate of marriage and highlighted two proposed changes. In-stead of the headings for “bride” and “groom,” the updated form reads “applicant 1” and “applicant 2.”

“It seemed sort of fishy to me,” Strout said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Maine voters, by a 53-47 percent vote, overturned a law passed by the Legislature earlier this year that would have allowed same-sex couples to get married.

John Martins, spokesman for DHHS, said that the department’s vital records division has been in the process of updating all its forms to reflect gender neutrality, but he admitted that more consideration could have been given to the timing.

“This was going to be done regardless of the outcome of Question 1, but I can see how some might question it,” Martins said. “It was certainly unintended.”

Several other state forms, including adoption applications, have been changed. On that form, instead of “mother” and “father,” it now reads “parent” and “co-parent,” Martins said.

erussell@bangordailynews.net

990-8167

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Comments
9 comments on this item
On 11/5/09 at 4:05 AM, noreasternelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

it,s ok just stick it on the wall of shame in agusta, as a reminder maine spoke, and maine said NO!!!

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On 11/5/09 at 5:56 AM, Thinkaboutit wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This is just another CHIP of the Gay / Lesbian People are doing to our society - Little chips here & there - Hopfully I won't live long enough to see this world & this state go into damnation -

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On 11/5/09 at 6:29 AM, Ladyslipper wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Gender neutral marriage licenses???.......Me thinks some people were a wee bit overconfident......

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On 11/5/09 at 6:46 AM, Inland wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

And just how much did this little fiasco cost the taxpeyers? Try getting with the program. The state spends tons of money on computers and we still have a paper certificate? There's some reason marriage licenses can't just be printed as needed at the local Clerk's computer?

More telling is the arrogance of the leftist "leadership in Augusta", who had pre-decided what the majority wanted.

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On 11/5/09 at 7:38 AM, garysavard wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

They lost, and they didn't think that was a possibility heading into the election. It's over. Move on.

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On 11/5/09 at 7:58 AM, PabMainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Another great example of how effecient our state government is being run.....

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On 11/5/09 at 9:35 AM, EJParsons wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Just X out Maine and send them all to New Hampshire.

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On 11/5/09 at 10:51 AM, wollydevil wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Congress could give the ok for the mayor of Washington DC the ok to sign the GAY marrage into law. How about that!!!

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On 11/5/09 at 5:17 PM, reaganite wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

It is DELICIOUS to see Baldacci get his arrogant, dishonest, flip-flopping hat handed to him on this one.

Send out new forms.

NOW.

Sell the "applicant 1" and "applicant 2" ones as souvenirs.............to help with the budget shortfall.

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