.- The group Stand for Marriage Maine has announced it has collected more than the 55,087 signatures required to place on the 2009 ballot a People’s Veto of a state law implementing same-sex “marriage.”
“In just four weeks, we've gathered more than 55,000 signatures from Mainers who believe they, not the legislature and governor, should have the final say on the definition of marriage," said Marc Mutty, chairman of the coalition supporting the ballot proposal and Public Affairs Director for the Catholic Diocese of Portland.
“There has been an extraordinary outpouring of support from voters across the state. This response gives us momentum that will lift us over the first hurdle of putting the issue before the people and, ultimately, carry us to victory in November.”
Bob Embrich, an executive committee member of Stand for Marriage Maine and founder of the Maine Jeremiah Project, said the speed with which the signatures were gathered suggested that Maine citizens want to restore marriage “to its historical and time-honored definition as between a man and a woman.”
“We look forward to submitting the measure for certification and engaging Mainers in a vigorous defense of marriage. Traditional marriage has never lost on the ballot in any state. We expect it to prevail in Maine.”
Stand for Marriage Maine is now collecting additional signatures as insurance for when the Secretary of State certifies their validity.
The coalition was formed after Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed legislation in May approving same-sex “marriages.” It is comprised of the Maine Jeremiah Project, the National Organization for Marriage, the Catholic Diocese of Portland and a number of other organizations and individuals.
Its website is located at http://www.standformarriagemaine.com
