Campaign to Save Maine Marriage Equality Underway
When Maine Governor John Baldacci signed marriage equality into law on May 6, equality advocates knew the battle was not over. Opponents have launched their latest assault in the form of a referendum campaign to subject marriage equality to a so-called people’s veto. But with the creation of the Maine Freedom to Marry campaign equality supporters are prepared for the fight.
Governor Baldacci indicated at the bill’s signing that he had come to recognize same-sex marriage as “a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law.” Immediately after the signing, opponents from the right announced they were organizing a people’s veto campaign. Opposition leaders have said the campaign’s goal is to put the question on the November 3 ballot, meaning they must gather 55,087 signatures and submit them to the Secretary of State by August 1. To help accomplish this goal, they have contracted with Schubert Flint Public Affairs group, the California based PR firm that lead the successful Prop 8 ballot initiative that stripped same-sex couples in California of the right to marry.
But pro-equality advocates are organized and ready to fight to protect marriage rights in Maine. Maine Freedom to Marry is a unified campaign bringing together the field organization and mobilization skills of EqualityMaine, the legal expertise of GLAD, and the public outreach capacity of the Maine Civil Liberties Union. To spearhead the anti-referendum campaign, Maine Freedom to Marry has hired Jesse Connolly, who lead the successful 2005 “Maine Won’t Discriminate” campaign where a significant majority of Mainers voted to keep sexual orientation in the state’s non-discrimination policy.
GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary Bonauto will serve on Maine Freedom to Marry’s Executive Committee. Along with her expertise leading GLAD’s successful marriage litigation, Mary brings GLAD’s public education campaign strategy, which was instrumental in organizing the testimony for the marriage bill’s public hearing that is widely recognized as the turning point in the legislative effort. Mary emphasizes that a public education strategy showing what marriage means to real families is the key to mobilizing supporters to get to the polls and protect equal marriage rights. “When people speak from their hearts about why they want to join in marriage, and what it means to be denied protections for their committed relationships, it makes all the difference,” she says. “We’re going to do the same thing in this campaign with the people of Maine.”
To get involved, get updates, and support the campaign, visit mainefreedomtomarry.com
Video
Maine parents talk about why marriage equality matters to their family:
Terry and Tamiko
Ray and Rodney