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VIDEO: Maine's First Married Gay Couple: "We Finally Feel Equal"

PHOTO: Bangor Daily News

Maine's new marriage equality law took effect after midnight. The first gay couple to be legally married "took their vows in a short ceremony" in the Portland city clerk’s office at about 12:25AM, reports the Bangor Daily News.

Michael Snell and Steven Bridges were the first in line and had been waiting for almost three hours. The Portland couple has been together for nine years. "We finally feel equal and happy to live in Maine," said Steven Bridges.

Watch the Press Herald's video of the happy couple AFTER THE JUMP ...

Maine, Maryland and Washington made history on November 6 when they became the first states to uphold marriage equality laws at the ballot. The Maine Legislature passed an equal marriage law in May 2009 ... but voters overturned the law later that year.

The state’s marriage license has been amended to reflect "the new gender-neutral nature of Maine marriages," reports the Press Herald.

Among the changes are that a “spouse” option has been added for parties entering marriage, known as "Party A" and "Party B." Until now, applicants had the choice of checking off the “bride” or “groom” boxes.

Same-sex couples can now legally marry in Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia. Rhode Island is the only state in New England that does not offer marriage equality.

Watch tthe Press Herald's video AFTER THE JUMP ...

EBONY: Maine GOP Chairman Accuses "Blacks" of Voter Fraud

Our latest for EBONY: "Everybody has a right to vote but nobody in these towns knows anyone who's Black,” said Maine Republican Party Chairman Charlie Webster.

Webster has been forced to issue a public apology after his bizarre allegations that “dozens [and] dozens of Black people [came] in and voted on Election Day.” Webster implied that this could have tipped the state’s vote to President Obama.

Webster’s preposterous comments were not satire for “The Onion." The remarks were made to Portland’s NBC affiliate WCSH-TV and represented the latest in a series of racially-charged post-election commentary by the Republican official. Webster made similar comments the previous day and “refused to provide specifics” or proof, reports the Portland Press Herald. “I'm not talking about 15 or 20. I'm talking hundreds.”

More than 95.5% of Mainers are white—the second highest percentage after Vermont. It’s very likely that many Mainers, especially those in rural areas, do not have any have Black neighbors. It’s also likely that “dozens and dozens” of Blacks were trying to vote in Maine on Election Day—probably the very few Blacks who actually live there.

Read the op-ed HERE.

In related news: An editorial in the Portland Press Herald has condemned Webster's race-baiting and asks Republicans to denounce the party chairman.

HRC: More Pro-LGBT Laws Passed in 2009 Than in '07 and '08 Combined

The Human Rights Campaign has released its annual, comprehensive state-by-state report detailing LGBT-related legislation in 2009. (PDF) The report notes that despite "disappointments in 2009, we witnessed a banner year for positive legislation affecting the LGBT community with as many positive bills passed this past year as in 2007 and 2008 combined."

According to the report (pdf): Three hundred thirty-two "good" LGBT bills were introduced last year and 50 passed, compared to 69 "bad" bills introduced and only four passed.

The highlights in 2009 include same-sex marriage recognition in Washington D.C., Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine (later overturned by voters); the expansion of federal hate crime protections to include sexual orientation and  gender identity; Washington state's expansive domestic partnership law and an anti-discrimination ordinance in Kalamazoo, MI overwhelmingly supported by voters.

WATCH: "Hey #P2!" When Will Progressives Fight for LGBT Rights?

Phil Reese at Ameriqueer is an amazing young Twitter-based progressive and gay activist. Phil just produced this powerful new video that calls all progressive political allies the—Twitter hashtag is #P2—and asks, "When do #LGBT issues get their turn?"

Phil writes: "Anti-war actions, anti-racism efforts, environmental efforts, and anti-domestic violence efforts. I've been there, simply, because I've been called on to do so. The leaders in these movements have made it very clear that if you're really a progressive, you must show action on these issues. ... When do LGBT issues get their turn?"

Oh and congratulations are in order. Phil Reese is writing a new monthly column on Illinois LGBT politics for Out & About. Bravo. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP.

WATCH: Maggie Gallagher Gloats Over "Great Victory" in Maine

Via the Catholic News Agency, gay obsessive Maggie Gallagher gloats over the "great victory" for bigots in Maine. "If they can't win this gay marriage thing in Maine, where can they win?"

Hmm. How about in our nation's capitol, Washington DC?

Maggie's extreme close-up AFTER THE JUMP.

Maine: National Organization for Marriage Must Disclose Donors

Some good news to report from Maine. The anti-gay National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has filed suit against the state to keep private the name of donors to "Yes on 1" campaign, which seeks to overturn the state's marriage equality law. A federal judge dismissed their challenge, reports the Portland Press Herald.

"Judge D. Brock Hornby ruled that Maine's reporting requirements for ballot question campaigns do not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as claimed in a lawsuit filed last week by the National Organization for Marriage. Bolstered by the ruling, Maine's attorney general challenged the advocacy group Wednesday night to make its records public before next week's vote on Question 1. 'We are not going to give them legal advice. We trust that their legal counsel will advise them to comply fully,' said Attorney General Janet Mills. 'The court has ruled that it is in the public interest to do so, and the law couldn't be clearer.' ... 'I would hope that they would file before the election," Mills said. "Why not? What is there to hide?' "

NOM, headed by Maggie Gallagher seen above, has contributed about $1.6 million to Stand for Marriage Maine, which is leading the fight to repeal the same-sex marriage law. That's more than half the total raised for the campaign so far, authorities say. State law requires any individual or group that raises or spends more than $5,000 to influence a ballot question vote to disclose contributors who gave more than $100 for that purpose.

Anti-gay social conservatives have no problem going to court when they need "activist" judges to overturn laws they don't like. When our side does it ... not so much.

News: Trey Songz, Maine, Madonna, Cristiano Ronaldo, HIV/AIDS

· Trey Songz butches it up in sexy new photoshoot.

· GyantUnplugged TV: Why does Floyd Mayweather want everyone to know that he is not gay?

· Report: HMOs limiting access to HIV/AIDS meds.

· Poll: Slight lead for supporters of same-sex marriage in Maine's Nov. 3 referendum.  51.8% will vote "no" on Question 1 and uphold the law legalizing it.

· Bangor Daily News urges readers to vote No on 1 and criticizes anti-gay campaign by Bishop Richard Malone and Catholic Church.

· The Obama Administration's point man on civil rights, Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez, promises to take more active role in fighting anti-LGBT discrimination.

· NYC mayoral candidate Bill Thompson clarifies his answer to a question about Obama and gay rights at mayoral debate.

· Cristiano Ronaldo to bulge for Armani.

· Ciara and TLC perform with Justin Timberlake.

· Neighbor files lawsuit against Madonna, claiming the pop star is using luxury Manhattan building as rehearsal studio and forcing neighbors to endure "blaring music, stomping and shaking walls, for up to three hours each day."

· Supreme Court Justice Justice Anthony Kennedy temporarily blocks Washington state officials from releasing the names of people who signed petition to get Referendum 71 on the ballot.

WATCH: Obama's Keynote Address to the Human Rights Campaign

Appearing before a very welcoming crowd at the Human Rights Campaign's annual dinner in Washington DC, President Barack Obama delivered an emotional speech and reiterated his commitment to LGBT rights. No specifics to enact his campaign promises, though, but the President did use his strongest language yet on the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

JUMP and watch the speech.

"I will end 'Dont Ask, Don't Tell,''' Obama said to thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the crowd of about 3,000. "We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve the country. We should be celebrating their willingness to step forward and show such courage especially when we are fighting two wars."

On ENDA, the President said "Nobody in America should be fired because they are gay" and committed the Administration to passing a "fully inclusive" version.

The most thunderous applause was for his mention of the Matthew Shepard Act. "I promised Judy Shepard we would pass an inclusive hate crimes bill. And we're going to do it!" he said admitting it's taken "too long." The measure passed the House on Thursday and is expected to pass the Senate next week.

As anticipated, the President did not mention the two ballot measures that would rollback rights granted to LGBTs on either coast: Question 1 in Maine and Referendum 71 in Washington. Obama offered broader promises to oppose the "divisiveness" of opponents of equality.

Obama also acknowledged that many LGBTs "don't believe progress has come fast enough" and added, "Friends should be able to be honest with one another", reminding supporters to keep him and the Congress accountable. Oh and then there was that fabulous opening bouquet to the gays: "It is a privilege to be here tonight to open for Lady Gaga."

No specifics, no call for legislation, and no mention of the major LGBT issues on the November ballot. Bur for the President and Nobel Peace Prize winner to keynote HRC in his first year of office .... that's progress. Best moment? Obama received a massive ovation for saying, "You will see a time when our country sees relationship between two men or two women as just as admirable as relationships between a man and woman."

Curious to hear you thoughts ...

JUMP and via C-SPAN watch the speech.

WATCH: Maine Marriage Equality Foes Ramp Up Scare Tactics

The Yes on 1/Stand for Marriage Campaign launched its third television spot last night in Maine. More lies and fear tactics around children and "homosexual marriage", which guidance counselor and noted anti-gay activist Donald Mendell says "strikes at the heart of the Sacraments."

Watch, via JoeMyGod, AFTER THE JUMP.

Will Obama Say Anything About Maine's Anti Gay Marriage Measure?

David Mixner says if President Obama "doesn't want his own words to be used in a hate-filled campaign" to reject Maine's marriage equality law, then speak out now:

"We all remember what happened in California. Even though Obama opposed Proposition 8, his profile on the initiative was very low. As a result, the YES on 8 folks did mass mailings using Obama's own words against marriage equality to imply that he supported the divisive measure. Many liberals and African-Americans were confused and voted 'YES ON 8' as a result of those mailings and ads. Let's not let that happen again. To avoid a re-occurrence of that disaster, the president should immediately, strongly and unequivocally oppose the proposition in Maine. He should denounce the efforts of the right-wing to put human rights on the ballot to be voted upon as if it was just another measure for the voters. The president must not mince words or be tepid in his support or once again go into his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. We got that, Mr. President. Time to come down without clever political language for full equality for the LGBT community."

Pam Spaulding responds to the "he's too busy with___" crowd: "No one expects President Obama to hop aboard Air Force One to head to Maine to deal with this issue, given health care and Afghanistan are on the front burner, but his silence, given he could simply issue a press release to reiterate his views on what is going on in Maine and that it is wrong, is deafening."

'Cuz it's not like the President is reluctant to get personally involved in state politics ....

Help protect marriage equality in Maine. Donate to 'Vote No on 1'.