Maine's Grassroots NO on 1 Campaign Relaunches Website, Receives Help from HRC

Maine's Freedom to Marry Coalition, created by the state's grassroots, had recently refashioned itself into the NO on 1 Campaign/Protect Maine Equality to battle the impending November referendum that would strip gays and lesbians of their newly won right to marry.

Now, they have relaunched their website, making sure that anyone who stops by will know how to vote this November.

On May 6, 2009 Maine ended discrimination in marriage for same-sex couples. This victory was the result of thousands of people who came forward to support marriage for all Maine families. The legislature and Governor followed the people's lead and passed this landmark legislation.

But the fight is not over. Opponents of marriage equality want to turn back the clock. They are working to place a measure on the ballot - modeled after California's Prop 8 - to take away the right of same-sex couples to marry in Maine.

This November, voters will be asked:

"Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?"

Answer: Vote NO on 1.

Maine has become the new California in that they find themselves in a position to defend their new rights from those wanting to take them away, and the culprits sound oddly familiar. Actually, the same. Frank Schubert of the California-based Shubert Flint Public Affairs, who ran the Yes on 8 campaign in California, is also behind this anti-marriage equality campaign, as well as the National Organization for Marriage which has given $160,000, $100,000 from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland and Focus on the Family, who despite budget shortfalls, has given $31,000.

So Maine needs all the help they can get. And we can win this time.

Lez Get Real reports:

The Human Rights Campaign, has delivered a check today for $50,000 to Maine’s ’No On 1 – Protect Marriage Equality’ campaign… bringing the HRC’s total contributions to the campaign to $75,000.

They have also dispatched staff members to Maine to assist with the campaign, which intends to keep the new law allowing Maine’s same-sex couples to wed off the ballot this November.

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Marty Rouse, National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign, said, “We don’t need to match our opponents,” and added. “But we do need to raise significant funds. This campaign is a grassroots campaign and we feel confident this campaign will be won by the grassroots, but we must try as best we can to raise a significant amount of money.”

Even more good news, WBZTV in Maine reports that the NO on 1 campaign has opened a third office in Lewiston to help broaden their work.

The stakes are high. A win in Maine will mean for the first time ever, the voters will decide to support marriage equality. A loss can set our movement back.

Check out NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality and get involved. No matter where you live, there's something you can do.