Family Matters
Gay marriage repealed in Maine
Yes on 1 claims victory, repeal opponents 'will regroup'
Voters on Tuesday repealed the state’s same sex marriage law after an emotionally charged campaign that drew large numbers to the polls and focused national attention on Maine.
“Question 1 has passed,” Frank Schubert, campaign manager of Stand for Marriage Maine, announced in Portland. “It has all come together tonight and the institution of marriage has been preserved.” Full Story
CDC says half of flu vaccine for Maine late
BANGOR, Maine — Vulnerable nursing home residents and schoolchildren are among the Mainers being told they will have to wait for a vaccination against seasonal influenza, despite a vigorous public health campaign this year urging everyone to get vaccinated early. Fewer than half of the approximately 300,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine ordered by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention have been delivered to date, and the agency’s director, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, says it probably will be late November before all the ordered vaccine is distributed.
“Unfortunately, we don’t control the supply,” Mills said Thursday. “We were led to believe it would be there.” Full Story
No on 1 far ahead in funding
Both gay marriage camps get out-of-state donations
AUGUSTA, Maine — The campaign to keep Maine’s same-sex marriage law on the books has raised more than double the amount of the group trying to repeal the law, according to finance reports released Tuesday.
Supporters of gay marriage have amassed a $2.7 million campaign war chest so far in a political race that is attracting hefty donations to both sides from organizations and activists from around the country. Full Story
Maine organic milk producers form company to save farms
True Yankee ingenuity launches MOOMilk
BAR HARBOR, Maine — Last February, a group of Maine organic dairy farmers thought that their businesses as they knew them had come to an end. Citing a soft organic market, a depressed economy and the great distances to serve organic milk producers in far-flung Washington and Aroostook counties, 10 farms were given their pink slips by H.P. Hood Inc.
The farmers were flabbergasted. Each had a contract, and all said they had made substantial investments in their farms to convert to organic.
Full Story
Question 1: Nation watches as Maine voters contemplate who can marry
Gay couple sees marriage as civil right; straight couple believes gay marriage undermines institution
On Nov. 3, Maine will either make history as the first state where voters grant same-sex couples the right to marry or join the ranks of the dozens of other states where “traditional marriage” has prevailed at the polls.
With the race over Question 1 apparently too close to call, national money and attention are pouring in as voters grapple with some of society’s thorniest cultural issues from religion and sex to health care, child rearing and constitutional rights. Full Story
Education head seeks analysis of gay marriage law effects on schools
State education commissioner Susan Gendron is asking the Attorney General’s Office to help settle whether Maine’s gay marriage law will affect curriculum in public schools. Full Story
Question 1 donations questioned
A state ethics commission plans to investigate claims that groups working to repeal Maine’s gay marriage law violated campaign finance laws in order to hide the identities of donors. Full Story
Christian Action Network sues state over solicitation letter
The Christian Action Network, a grass-roots political organization, has sued Gov. John Baldacci and the state of Maine over a fundraising letter the Forest, Va.-based group sent out earlier this year about privileges the group claimed were given Muslims in American public schools and universities. Full Story
Gay marriage foes do battle on airwaves
The political debate over gay marriage in Maine is heating up as dueling ads from the two sides begin filling the television and radio airwaves. Full Story
There's lots of proof same-sex marriage will harm the rights of others
Evidence from other states shows that religious institutions and families have suffered abuse. Full Story
Stand For Marriage Maine: Massachusetts Couple Shares Experience
of Second Graders Being Introduced To Gay Marriage In Class Full Story
November ballot measures set Full Story
Voters to decide fate of gay marriage in Maine
It's official: Mainers will vote this November whether to uphold or repeal the state's gay marriage law.
The Secretary of State's Office has confirmed that groups opposed to same-sex marriage have gathered enough petition signatures to place a repeal effort on the November ballot. David Farmer, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci, said that the governor signed a proclamation on Wednesday setting up the Nov. 3 vote. Full Story
Every generation faces a choice that will define the future for its offspring. This is ours. Full Story
To overturn same-sex marriage in Maine
Yes on 1
A remarkable 100,000 signatures
Your hard work and dedication helped deliver 100,000 signatures in support of putting the People's Veto on the November ballot! Our supporters came out to the Secretary of State's office to witness the delivery of the results this remarkable grassroots effort produced. Full story
Opponents Of Same Sex Marriage Collect Donations
A group hoping to block enacted legislation to legalize same sex marriage in Maine is collecting money for their campaign. Full story
Maine gay marriage foes hire Calif. Prop 8 firm
Gay marriage foes in Maine have hired the public relations firm that led the successful Proposition 8 proposal to overturn same-sex marriage in California, while supporters have turned to a legislative aide who led a successful campaign to retain Maine's gay rights law. Full story
Gay Marriage Opponents Force Referendum Vote
It looks like the conflict over same sex marriage in Maine will come down to a showdown at the ballot box this fall. Full story
Lawmakers approve same-sex marriage in N.H., Maine
(CNN) -- Lawmakers voted in favor of same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and Maine on Wednesday, leaving Rhode Island as the only other New England state without legislation in favor of the issue. LINK
Be Part of the PEOPLE'S VETO
Registered Maine voters may sign the petition to veto LD 1020
at Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church
Moosehead Trail (Rte 7)
Plymouth, Maine
Saturday, May 30
7AM to 8PM
or Sunday, May 31 1PM to 6PM
The Maine legislature has redefined marriage in Maine, giving approval to same-sex marriage. With Governor Baldacci's signature, the new law will take effect in mid-September UNLESS we gather 55,087 valid signatures from registered Maine voters. If we gather the required signatures by the first part of August, the law will be suspended until a statewide vote takes place in November.
Call 257-3239 for more information
People's Veto Petition Timeline
Now that the legislature has adjourned, we have 90 days to submit signatures to the Secretary of State. That means our final deadline is around September 10th. The problem is that waiting that long would mean we could not actually vote until June of 2010. We would much rather have the People's Veto on the November, 2009 ballot.
But if we are to get the People's Veto on the November, 2009 ballot, we must turn in the signatures by July 31st. In order to have time to sort & process the petitions, we need you to send them to us by JULY 15th.
If we do not have enough signatures by the end of July, we will continue gathering them and plan to be on the ballot in June, 2010.
In other words, we are asking you to fill your petitions within about 30 days. It is an awesome task, but it can be done.
So, please get us your "Certificate of Registration" as soon as possible.
And then start sending us your completed petitions right away. After you have your petitions notarized, you can send them to us or take them to your town office to have them certified. Either way, the sooner we get them, the better.
Please don't stop gathering signatures until you hear from us. There are lots of rumors about the petitions, so don't hesitate to ask us for clarification.
Again, we thank you for your help. Together, we can make this happen.