AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Secretary of State approved language Wednesday for a citizen’s initiative that would ask Mainers once again if they want to allow same-sex couples to marry.

A coalition of same-sex marriage advocates is set to begin gathering signatures as early as this weekend. If that effort is successful, Maine voters would be asked next November to support or reject: An Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom.

“I’m grateful to Secretary of State Summers for promptly approving the language of the proposed law to let same-sex couples marry in Maine,” said Pastor Michael Gray of Old Orchard Beach United Methodist Church, one of six original signers of the initiative petition. “As campaign volunteers fan out across the state to collect signatures from their fellow Mainers I expect they will encounter thousands of willing signers who have changed their hearts and minds on marriage after getting to know their gay and lesbian neighbors, co-workers and community members — just as I have done.”

An Act to Allow Marriage Licenses for Same-Sex Couples and Protect Religious Freedom as written would permit gay and lesbian couples to obtain licenses to legally marry in Maine. It would not, however, require churches to perform such marriages in violation of their religious teachings.

“The state is never going to go into a church and tell them who they can and can’t marry,” Pastor Gray said.

Still, the effort is expected to face strong opposition from religious groups and others.

In 2009, after the Maine Legislature approved a similar measure allowing same-sex marriage, a people’s veto effort was immediately launched by a coalition of evangelical Christian churches and the Catholic church in Maine.

In November 2009, after intensely political campaigns from both sides, Maine overturned the same-sex marriage law with 53 percent of voters supporting repeal.

Rita Clifford, one of the original signers of the petition, lives in Scarborough with her partner of 30 years, Sara Jane Elliot. The couple hopes enough hearts and minds have changed in Maine since November 2009.

“So many of our friends and neighbors have heard firsthand how important the responsibilities and commitment of marriage are to us and we know we’ll get a lot of support from them and many other Mainers,” Clifford said.

Maine currently is the only New England state that does not allow same-sex marriage. Iowa, New York and Washington, D.C. also allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.

Same-sex advocates announced their plans in late June to launch a citizen’s initiative. The group must gather at least 57,277 valid signatures by January 2012 to get the question on the November 2012 ballot.

In addition to the signature-gathering effort, same-sex marriage advocates have created a political action committee, Dirigo Family PAC, that will manage the campaign and solicit donations.

Reprinted with permission from the Bangor Daily News.

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