The Maine House of Representatives has voted to grant same-sex couples the right to marry by a vote of 89-58. Last week the Maine Senate voted 21-14 for same-sex marriage as well.

A recent poll shows Maine voters are evenly split on the issue. And, while it remains unclear if Governor Baldacci would sign the bill  should it reach his desk, he has suggested recently that he would favor the legislation.

In a final vote by a margin of 12-1, the lone dissenting vote cast by former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, the city council has voted to recognize same-sex marriages preformed in other states.

This was the second vote of the morning. The first vote was a unanimous 13-0 until Barry realized what he had voted for and wanted a do-over.

If Congress fails to overturn the vote within 30 days, council member David Catania will introduce a separate bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the district later this year.

More on the vote at the Washington Post.

Over at OneNewsNow.com, our favorite homophobe Peter LaBarbera drops some pearls of wisdom on the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), viewing it as yet another attempt to grant special rights to homosexuals. If only UAFA had a “reverse” provision to ship folks like him OUT of the country.

“We don’t need to start providing government benefits and special treatment to relationships based on homosexuality, which many people regard as a sin,” says LaBarbera. “I think this is an egregious example of special rights for homosexuals.”

The pro-family activist contends that homosexuals and their supporters are using this case to push for the passage of the Uniting American Families Act (H.R. 1024), which would give homosexual Americans the right to sponsor foreign-born partners for residency.

“This is a ridiculous piece of legislation,” exclaims LaBarbera. “Americans are already concerned over illegal immigration. I don’t think most Americans want to give incentives to bring more homosexual activists into the country, which is what this case embodies.”

I’m all for yanking soap boxes out from under homophobes and bigots, denying them the  attention they so desparately crave. Many suggested I should have done that instead of posting Joe the Plumber’s outrageous but totally in-character quote yesterday… But I think in some cases, letting these outrageous statements run wild in the media/blog echo chamber marginalizes these creatures further.

And that’s a good thing.

Check out this wonderful assortment of Republicans revealing their inner beauty as sad, white-faced clowns .  Of all the Photoshopped parodies across the web, these have to be among the best and most realistic. My favorites are Michelle Bachmann and Newt. Click on the image below to view them all in their white-faced glory…

Via Huffington Post.