Gay marriage opponents take next step

New Coalition in Maine Files for People’s Veto of Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Augusta -- A coalition of faith-based and pro-family groups today filed for a People’s Veto to overturn Governor John Baldacci’s signature of the same-sex marriage bill. The Maine Marriage Coalition is being led by Bob Emrich and Marc Mutty who have worked together resisting the bill in the legislature.

“Governor Baldacci’s misplaced signature on this legislation is not the end of this debate, it is the beginning,” said Bob Emrich, Director of the Maine Marriage Alliance. “Our coalition is committed to giving the voters of Maine the opportunity to veto this bill with our votes. There has never been a state whose electorate has authorized gay marriage and Maine is not going to be the first one. Every state that has given voters the opportunity to decide this issue has decided that marriage should remain between a man and a woman. We are committed to preserving marriage in Maine.”

Governor John Baldacci today signed LD 1020 into law. However, if opponents of the bill can gather 55,087 signatures on referendum petitions, the issue will be referred to voters for the final decision.

“Just last year, voters in California, Florida and Arizona voted to define marriage as being between a man and a woman,” said Emrich. “All told, 30 states have voted on the marriage issue and every one has voted to define marriage as between a man and a woman. We are confident that Maine will as well.”

The coalition’s leaders said they will form a bi-partisan, broad-based group involving people of every faith, background, ethnicity and partisan affiliation. “Marriage is a special institution that cuts across religious, ethnic and socio-economic lines,” said Marc Mutty, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. “It is the one institution that brings men and women together and provides the ideal situation for raising children. Marriage is the most pro-child institution ever devised and we intend to fight this effort to strip marriage of meaning. We look forward to a vigorous discussion with the voters of Maine as to why we should not discard the institution of marriage.”