A campaign to legalize gay marriage in
Maine has gathered more than 25,000 signatures in only 3 weeks.
Equality
Maine, the state's largest gay rights group, announced on
Thursday that it was nearly one third of the way toward its goal. To
qualify for the 2012 ballot, supporters need to collect the
signatures of 57,277 registered voters. However, in order to ensure
that there are sufficient valid signatures, the group plans to gather
nearly 75,000 signatures.
In 2009, gay marriage foes narrowly
(53%) repealed a gay marriage law approved by lawmakers with a
“people's veto” at the ballot box. Now, backers hope to make
Maine the first state to legalize the institution through the same
democratic process.
The proposed text of the question
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?”
Proponents in Maine acted after New
York became the sixth state to legalize such unions in July and
Maryland
Governor Martin O'Malley pledged to back a gay marriage bill during
next year's legislative session, which begins in January.