National fundraising playing big role in pending Maine same-sex 'marriage' vote

Portland, Maine, Oct 25, 2009 / 02:48 am

As the date approaches for the same-sex "marriage" referendum vote in Maine, Stand for Marriage Maine is stressing the repercussions of a "no" vote and the importance of fundraising to spread their message. The organization is increasing advertising time in local media outlets leading up to the vote, but trails the opposition in financial contributions by a large margin.

Question 1 on Maine´s November 3rd election ballot will read: People´s Veto: "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?" 

According to Mark Mutty, campaign chairman for Stand for Marriage Maine (SFMM), “Question 1 is about the definition of marriage, plain and simple. If it fails, and homosexual marriage is legalized in Maine, it will have great consequence for society, particularly for those who conscientiously object to this new definition.

“If what has happened in other states is any guide,” Mutty warned, “children will be taught in public schools that 'same-sex marriage' is the same as traditional marriage. Advocates for this agenda will fight to even prevent parents from having advance notice of such instruction, or from having the right to withhold their children from such teaching.”

Protect Equality Maine, which supports same-sex “marriage,” countered the ads, calling them distortions and unfounded.

Mutty also reflected on the values being promoted by supporters of same-sex “marriage.”

“The values behind the effort to change the definition of marriage into a genderless contract that places adult-centric interests before the optimal outcomes for children are not values that are shared by the majority of Mainers, religious or otherwise,” he said.

CNA talked to Scott Fish, the Director of Communications at SFMM.

"Marriage will be radically redefined as the relationship between two people," with no regard to gender.  He said that this would change the legal and cultural environment in Maine.  "Bride and groom, for example, will become gender-neutral terms."

"We see it as a huge cultural shift."

When asked what SFMM was doing to prepare for the coming election, Fish responded, "We´ve been working hard in two areas: getting out the vote... and informing the people."

According to Fish, the opposition is treating this referendum not as "a silo issue," but that "it´s being used to create national momentum."  He pointed to the fact that same-sex “marriage” supporters from across the nation have thrown their financial heft behind the effort.

"The opposition has received contributions from organizations and individuals in 46 states and territories," he stated.

"We have been outraised by 3-to-1." 

Fish called the lack of national contributions for the "yes" vote "puzzling."

However, Stand for Marriage Maine is still increasing their advertising time in local media as the referendum election date nears.

Another influential factor in the election is that there will be 5 measures on the ballot this year in Maine, a fact that Fish called “unusual."  As a result, voter turnout might be higher than it would be otherwise, considering there are no officials up for election.  Among these measures is a taxpayer bill of rights and another that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

Maine historically records high voter turnout, with 72.4% of the population voting in the 2008 general elections.

Question 1 is backed by Stand for Marriage Maine, whose website is at http://www.standformarriagemaine.com.