Date: Fri, 3 May 1996 19:44:35 -0400 (EDT) From: Kenneth Sherrill Subject: Anti-LGB Marriage Referendum in Maine? X-Sender: clkag@portland.maine.com Subject: [Maine] Proposed Anti-Gay Initiative in Maine Dear Friends: Wanted to bring you the news - (I wish I had something different): Augusta, Maine - May 1, 1996 ------- Carolyn Cosby and Concerned Maine Families held a press conference in Augusta today and announced their intention to submit language for a new referendum. This time they want to have a referendum that opposes same gender marriage. The language in part states: "Persons of the same sex shall not be permitted to contract marriage". She claims that her new referendum ...."will state explicitly what is already implicit in Maine law - that marriage is for one man and one woman"...... She stated that she is responding to what is happening in a Hawaii court case brought by three same-gender couples in 1990 or 1991 that is now working its way through the Hawaii Courts. I spoke with the Sec'y of State's office and was told that it will take a little while (perhaps a month or longer) for the actual language of the question to be approved, and for petitions to be printed. So CMF could be out within a month (or two) collecting signatures. (My guess is that she may use the June 11 primary if the petitions are ready, and then most certainly the general election on November 5. CMF would have until approximately January 23 next year to collect 51,000 + signatures. If she did - then we would have this ballot question in Nov. 1997. (The last time she collected signatures - she began in July 1993 - and did not collect enough until January 1995. So some of them were more than a year old and had to be disqualified.) ***************************** MLGPA would like to organize a statewide "DON"T SIGN ON" (to hate, intolerance, inequality, etc.........you name it!) campaign. We would like to hear comments from the community on the idea of a DON'T SIGN ON! Campaign. I have spoken with members of MLGPA, g/l/b/t people who are not members, some of our allies, and several people who were or are organized locally as a result of our last battle with CMF! So far, the response has been very good. People have universally expressed 1) frustration and 2) Let's make sure that we prevent CC and CMF from getting as far as the ballot this time! So, please take a few moments and let us hear from you asap. We would like to have a meeting in Portland, Augusta and Bangor very quickly if there is support for the idea. Also, we could use the May 11th Network meeting in Augusta as a way to get out information to other activists about a DON'T SIGN ON Campaign. Please forward this message to interested persons who may not be members of maine gaynet. Most of all - Keep the Faith! We stopped the intolerance once, and we will stop it again - only sooner this time! Sincerely, Karen Geraghty President, Maine Lesbian/Gay Political Alliance 1-800-556-5472 email: clkag@maine.com ************************************************************* To post to Maine GayNet or to send a reply to the whole list, send mail to me-gaynet@abacus.oxy.edu *************************************************************