Maine gay rights supporters petition to put gay marriage on the ballot

Gay Magazine - San Diego
Gay Magazine - San Diego
LGBT Community and Allies at Southern Maine Pride//Photo source: Maine Gay Men's Chorus

LGBT rights advocates in Maine gathered more than 5,000 signatures this weekend for a petition to put gay marriage on the 2012 ballot. In coordination with local gay rights organization Equality Maine, same-sex marriage supporters rallied throughout the state to collect signatures and educate the public about marriage equality.

According to the Houston Chronicle, volunteers made their way through a number of communities in search of support, including Portland, Kennebunk, Biddeford and York. Teams of supporters strategically visited summer festivals and other popular events in hopes of accumulating a total of 80,000 signatures.

Diane Dink, one of the rally’s organizers, told reporters that her team received a positive public response to the petition. “People were very receptive,” said Dink. “I met a couple who have been together for 35 years. They are very excited and eager about this. They were confused as to why anyone would want to prevent them from making a permanent commitment.”

The petition has, thus far, received 5,200 signatures out of the 57,277 needed to put gay marriage on the ballot. If the petition is successful, the measure would first go to the Maine State Legislature, which would have the power to pass the bill into law.

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