Maine is ground zero for marriage equality '09

[Pint0 Xtreme]

For anyone's interest, Maine will be the next marriage equality fight involving a popular vote. In terms of funding, they're being hit pretty hard with anti-marriage equality groups out-raising marriage equality proponents 2-1. The good news is that Equality Maine is taking absolutely no chances and are running critically important canvasses throughout the state, which is something the NoOnProp8 campaign should have done. A number of people here in California are going to Maine later this year for a week to help campaign against the referendum and I'm considering going as well. Well, I've never been to that side of the country before and I hear Maine is beautiful in the fall...

Catholic groups boost campaign against Maine marriage
Activists supporting same-sex nuptials outraised 2-1

Anti-gay and Catholic groups made the largest donations in recent months to overturn Maine's new same-sex marriage law, helping opponents of such unions outraise supporters more than 2-1.

Campaign finance reports made available Wednesday show that while people trying to defend the law raised $148,930.32, opponents of same-sex marriage raised $344,619.50. The reports detail the period between April 1 and July 5.

In May, Maine became the fifth state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage. But the possibility of a "people's veto" threatens the new law. If opponents of same-sex marriage gather enough petition signatures for a "people's veto" before the law takes effect, the law will be put up for a vote and the electorate will decide the matter.

The threshold for getting enough signatures is low — just 55,087 names are needed — so LGBT activists are planning to protect the law on November's ballot. Proponents of the "people's veto" have said they already have enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

Some of the organizations that donated to the campaign in favor of the "people's veto" also donated to the campaign in favor of Proposition 8, which last year ended same-sex marriage in California. Active political action committees in favor of the referendum are Marriage Matters in Maine and StandforMarriage.com.

Catholic organizations and anti-gay groups were the most noteworthy donors:

• National Organization for Marriage donated $160,000 in cash contributions and $9,066.43 in in-kind contributions;

• Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland donated $100,000 in cash contributions and $10,339.73 in in-kind contributions;

• Focus on the Family's Maine Marriage Committee donated $31,000 in cash contributions and $2,594.62 in in-kind contributions;

• Knights of Columbus donated $50,000 in cash contributions;

• and Maine Family Policy Council donated $625 in cash contributions.

Catholic organizations outside Maine also made major donations to the campaign. Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Evansville in Indiana and the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in New Mexico donated $1,000 each.

Jesse Connolly, campaign manger for Maine Freedom to Marry, said "it's not a surprise" to see that Catholic organizations contributed money in favor of the "people's veto." He noted that the public affairs official for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Marc Mutty, has taken leave to chair the campaign in opposition to the marriage law.

Additionally, one Catholic group has announced its plan to launch a campaign against marriage rights for same-sex couples in New York, Rhode Island and Maine.

The group, known as the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family & Property, plans to tour major cities in these states to rally opposition to same-sex marriage and deliver tout "10 reasons why homosexual 'marriage' is harmful and must be opposed," according to a press release.

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage," spokesperson John Ritchie said in the release. "It is morally wrong, sinful, offensive to God and a violation of natural law."

Campaign to protect law
also receives donations

In response to these combined efforts, several LGBT and allied groups are working to protect the statute.

The active PACs in favor of the same-sex marriage law are Maine Freedom to Marry and Mid-Coast for Marriage Equality. Compared to the PACs raising money to rescind the law, PACs in favor of same-sex marriage had dozens more donors of $50 or more who are Maine residents.

Among the organizations that donated to the campaign supporting the marriage law were:

• Human Rights Campaign donated $25,000 in cash contributions and $15,782.31 in in-kind contributions;

• American Civil Liberties Union donated $10,000 in cash contributions;

• Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders donated $3,392 in in-kind contributions;

• Equality Maine donated $5,000 in cash contributions and $22,703.40 in in-kind contributions;

• and the LGBT Mentoring Project, a Los Angeles-based organization, donated $9,125 in in-kind contributions.

Connolly said his organization was "pleased with the amount of money" it raised this quarter, particularly from donors within Maine.

"I think we're really excited to highlight our grassroots support we have, especially among Maine residents who have shown up in our report," he said.

Connolly said Maine Freedom to Marry always knew it would be outspent in the campaign and that the group plans to rely on its grassroots support to defend the law at the ballot box.

"I think finances tell one part of the story," he said. "I think the other part of the story is this amazing grassroots network that we have, the tens of thousands of supporters that we have across the state — they already told us that they intend to fully support equality at the polls. Our effort is going to be heavily relied upon by them."

Marty Rouse, HRC's national field director, said HRC made its contributions because activists in Maine have built a great campaign to protect the marriage law.

"We believe that our allies in Maine have created a strong, experienced, Maine-based campaign that we think can defeat the ballot question in November," he said. "We think that win will not only have significance for the community in Maine, but will have national significance if we are able to win in November."

But Rouse emphasized the need for the campaign to have financial backing early on to be successful.

"It's important that our community understand the need to fund campaigns early," he said. "If the funds are not there early, we cannot build a strong campaign."

He also noted, "Our opponents understand this, and that is why you see money coming from organizations to our opposition in significant amounts and rather early in the campaign."

Rouse said HRC expects supporters of same-sex marriage in Maine and across the country "to raise significant funds" to defeat the referendum and HRC is hopeful that money will come in soon.

Monique Hoeflinger, an executive committee member for Maine Freedom to Marry, had previously said in a phone conference that activists fighting the "people's veto" would need a minimum of $3 million to $5 million to win, and possibly upwards of $10 million.

A number of prominent activists also donated cash contributions to the campaign in support of the law:

• David Mixner, a gay Democratic activist, donated $500;

• Evan Wolfson, the New York-based Freedom to Marry's executive director, donated $250;

• Lee Swislow, GLAD's executive director, donated $500;

• Mary Bonauto, GLAD's civil rights project director, donated $1,000;

• and Betsy Smith, Equality Maine's executive director, donated $500.

Other notable donations in support of the campaign defending the same-sex marriage law come from Maine and elsewhere:

• Jane Bergert, a Falmouth, Maine, resident, donated $10,000;

• Stephen Kay, a Severna Park, Md., resident, donated $4,000;

• James Mitchell, an Augusta, Maine, resident, donated $1,500;

• and Henry Van Ameringen, a New York resident, donated $5,000.

Connolly said despite the discrepancy in fundraising, his campaign feels "positive about where the race is right now."

"We're still in the middle of summer here," he said. "People don't really get involved in these efforts until after Labor Day, so I think we're really happy with where the campaign is today."

Rouse said he thinks "there's a very good chance" that Maine will defeat will the referendum in November, in part because same-sex marriage supporters in the state "have done an excellent job over years of work identifying and mobilizing supporters of marriage equality all across the state."

Rouse declined to comment on whether he had any polling data regarding the "people's veto."

[Crossroads Inc.]

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage," spokesperson John Ritchie said in the release. "It is morally wrong, sinful, offensive to God and a violation of natural law.

Once just ONCE I'd like to hear someone make an Anti-Gay Marriage argument that DIDN'T Involve God! Oh.. Im Sorry, those DON"T EXIST! So FUCK you Catholic Church, and anyone Else dog piling on this! Gay Marriage has been a Fact in several States in almost Five years now and The sky has NOT fallen, God has NOT smote them down, the world has NOT come to an end! I would Pay real money for this little fucks to point to Mass and find even ONE item on their list of ""10 reasons why homosexual 'marriage' is harmful and must be opposed,"" and show that it has come to pass. Im wiling to bet their going to have to lie through their teeth to find Anything in a sate with gay Marriage.

IM sorry, did I rant a bit? I guess its jjust the face that Every state where these fuckers pop up, they seem to WIN 100% of the time so far.. so FUCK them all!

[Pint0 Xtreme]

In the Iowa Supreme Court case, they actually tried to argue to the justices that the detrimental effects of same-sex marriage occurs 20 years after its implementation since it became quite apparent that none of those effects were happening in MA. Obviously, none of the justices bought that line of bullshit.

[Samuel]

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage,"

Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? The reason counterfeit money isn't real... is it isn't backed by the government. Which is the who point of marriage equality. Do you think they can come up with less inherently stupid metaphors?

[Crossroads Inc.]

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage,"

Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? The reason counterfeit money isn't real... is it isn't backed by the government. Which is the who point of marriage equality. Do you think they can come up with less inherently stupid metaphors?

Remember, these people aren't about Facts, they are about PERCEPTION. People have a perception in their heads when they hear "counterfeit" they think fake, unlawful illegal, hurtful, all things that the Far-Right would lOVE to be associated with gay marriage. Do oyu honestly think they care about the factual definition of Counterfeit?

[Prannon]

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage,"

Am I the only one who finds this hilarious? The reason counterfeit money isn't real... is it isn't backed by the government. Which is the who point of marriage equality. Do you think they can come up with less inherently stupid metaphors?

The analogy is that homosexual marriage isn't backed up by God, probably based on biblical interpretations from Leviticus and Paul's Epistles. Basically, their argument is - again - based not on any physical logic but on the assumption that even the US government is subordinate to the morality of God (which churches and individuals are free to interpret however they like of course. )