An American state which rejected homosexual marriage in a 2009 public referendum could have another vote on the issue.
Last week a coalition of pro-homosexual campaigners in Maine announced they had secured enough signatures on a petition to force a second ballot, which now must be certified.
But opponents said a second vote would only benefit advertisers, and that the public had already decided the matter.
No
Brian Brown, president of the National Organisation for Marriage (NOM), commented: “NOM intends to vigorously fight this attempt by same-sex marriage advocates to impose gay marriage in Maine.
“Maine voters rejected gay marriage barely more than two years ago. What part of ‘no’ don’t gay marriage advocates understand?”
And pastor Bob Emrich, who helped lead the 2009 campaign against homosexual marriage, said “the only people who will benefit will be the people who sell advertising”.
Change
Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, claimed there had been a change in public opinion and that Maine would become the final state in New England to recognise homosexual marriage.
She said: “Our polling shows a 54 per cent majority of support for same-sex marriage in Maine.
“Many Mainers have changed their minds and want a chance to bring equality and fairness to our state.”
Intimidation
But Carroll Conley, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, believed that many responding to recent opinion polls felt “intimidated”.
“The most important poll is the vote and this has occurred 31 times across the country and all 31 times, people across the U.S. believe in natural marriage.”
If Maine voters approve homosexual marriage, it would be the first state in America to do so by popular vote.