Groups spend $9.6 m in Maine gay marriage vote

(Augusta, Maine) Campaign finance reports show that the two sides in the ballot fight that overturned Maine’s gay marriage law spent $9.6 million.

And the side that successfully argued to revoke the gay marriage law last month spent $3.8 million, less than the $5.8 million spent by those supporting the law. …

Anti-gay marriage group eyes Maine gov’s race

(Augusta, Maine) A group that helped to defeat Maine’s gay marriage law in November’s referendum wants to play a role in next year’s gubernatorial and legislative races.

The National Organization for Marriage wants to publicize how candidates voted on Maine’s same-sex marriage law earlier this year before it was rejected by …

Maine gay marriage campaigns report donations

(Augusta, Maine) Supporters of Maine’s gay marriage law said Tuesday they’ve collected $2.7 million for their campaign against a ballot proposal to repeal it, more than double the amount the measure’s supporters said they raised.

The group, called NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality, also reported that it has spent $2.2 million …

Fate of Maine gay marriage law in hands of voters

(Augusta, Maine) The governor of Maine has signed a formal proclamation putting the state’s gay marriage law up for a vote in November.

Gov. John Baldacci signed the measure Wednesday after election officials verified that gay marriage foes had reached the threshold of petitions necessary to put the law on the …

Marriage backers are being outspent by foes in Maine referendum

The group trying to defend Maine’s marriage-equality law in a Nov. 3 referendum is raising money at a slower pace than the law’s opponents. The latter has brought in more than $343,000, while marriage backers have reported contributions of $138,640. Portland Press Herald (Maine)

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Maine gay marriage foes hire Calif. Prop 8 firm

(Portland, Maine) 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.

Schubert Flint Public Affairs will provide …

In Maine,Sen. Damon leads gay pride parade NECN -

Advocates of same-sex marriage marched through the streets of Portland, Maine on Saturday for the annual gay pride parade — the first since passing a gay marriage law last month.

Participants carried a 900-foot long rainbow flag that stretched for several city blocks.

The man who sponsored Maine’s gay marriage law, Senator Dennis Damon, was the master of ceremonies.

“It isn’t just the gay. Lesbian, bisexual, transgender community, it’s our community as a whole. And that’s what I hope that Maine will look onto, will grab onto and continue to move forward with,” Sen. Dennis Damon said.

Last month, Maine became the fifth state to allow gay marriage.

Since then, New Hampshire adopted its own a gay marriage law.

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Maine Judiciary Committee Endorses Gay Marriage

A same-sex marriage bill is going to the Maine Senate and House with a strong committee endorsement.

Eleven of the 14 Judiciary Committee members voted Tuesday to pass the bill, while two voted against it and one proposed sending it to voters in a November referendum. Gov. John Baldacci remains undecided.

Supporters said the bill corrects an inequality that’s long existed in Maine law, while one of the opponents pointed to overwhelming constituent opposition to the bill.

Republican Sen. David Hastings of Fryeburg said he prefers sending a straightforward question to voters.

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