Gay marriage proponents will attempt to
legalize the institution in Maine with a citizen's initiative.
In 2009, foes narrowly (53%) repealed a
gay marriage law approved by lawmakers with a “people's veto” at
the the ballot box.
Now, backers hope to make Maine the
first state to legalize the institution with a vote of the people.
At a press conference held Thursday on
the steps of Lewiston City Hall, gay rights group Equality Maine and
legal group Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
announced it would file paperwork with election officials to start
the process of gathering 57,000 signatures to put the issue on next
fall's ballot.
“The process of winning the freedom
to marry begins today,” Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality
Maine, told the crowd. “There is much we must do before we can win
the freedom to marry in Maine. Specifically, we must gather enough
signatures to get on the ballot. We must continue changing hearts
and minds about why marriage matters.”
“We know our opponents will come at
us hard, like they did in 2009. They will raise a lot of money. And
they will use that money to mislead, confuse and distract voters from
the real subject, as they have admitted that they did in 2009.”
The proposed text of the question,
which will be submitted by Pastor Michael Gray of the Old Orchard
Beach United Methodist Church, reads: “Do you favor a law allowing
marriage licenses for same-sex couples that protects religious
freedom by ensuring no religion or clergy be required to perform such
a marriage in violation of their religious beliefs?”
“We believe there's strong support
for marriage in Maine,” GLAD's Matt McTighe said. “We believe
that all families deserve the right to marry. The longer we wait,
the longer we delay this right of loving and committed couples to
marry.”
The new effort comes a day after the
Rhode Island Legislature approved a civil unions bill and New
Jersey proponents filed a new legal challenge to marry, and less
than a week after New York became the sixth – and most populous –
state to legalize gay marriage.