It is an amazing coincidence that all of New England seems to be moving rapidly to consolidating same-gender legal marriage rights in a very short period of time. Maybe we can begin to see why the “inevitable” word is getting used so much.

None of this, as far as we can tell, will affect the thinking of the California Supreme Court, if that thinking has not already been set in concrete. (Their final decision on Proposition 8 is due virtually any time now, and certainly by June 4, under the own internal rules.)

[1] 365Gay.com May 5 headline: Maine House approves gay marriage

Here’s the gist of it:

With a vote of 89-58, the Maine House on Tuesday gave initial approval to legislation allowing same-sex marriage.  The [House] spent three hours in impassioned debate on the bill.  It received initial passage in the state Senate on April 30.

The House version and that of the Senate now must be unified and undergo a final vote before going to the desk of Gov. John Baldacci.  Whether the governor will sign it is anybody’s guess at this point. Baldacci has said he has not made up his mind on gay marriage. . . . ( [2] Read it all.)

And another [1] 365Gay.com headline, also on May 5: NH marriage bill advances

Legislation that would allow same-sex couples to marry is headed to a final vote Wednesday in the New Hampshire House.

The bill was approved by the Senate last week with an added provision that specifically states that churches that do not support gay marriage may refuse to perform the ceremonies.  The revised bill was returned to the House, where Tuesday it was approved by a key committee which recommended passage.

It is expected the House will endorse the revised version, sending it on to the governor.  But Gov. John Lynch remains silent on whether he will sign or veto the bill. . . . ( [4] Read it all.)

If anything might yet influence California’s highest court, it would be the cool and logical legal reasoning of Iowa’s Supreme Court. But as we have seen, the issues are still very different, since Proposition 8, if upheld, trumps all matters of “equal protection” and simply writes unequal rights into the California constitution.

Even as each state’s progress is checked in the equal rights column, it becomes clearer and clearer that California must and will see a ballot measure to get rid of Proposition 8. That is certainly the position of [5] Love Honor Cherish and other groups which are meeting this spring to strategize the next steps. From what I’ve been told personally, every time a collection of representatives of other groups have gathered to discuss timing, the question boils down to 2010 or 2012, and after vigorous discussion most people are saying we must move in time for the 2010 ballot. The momentum for reversing Proposition 8 couldn’t be stronger, especially when it seems each passing week in New England is adding to that momentum.

— Dan Hooper