Gay marriage supporters airing television advertisement
Friday, August 21st, 2009
www.gayonlinenews.com
AUGUSTA — Gay marriage supporters began running a television advertisement Thursday that features gay and straight Mainers talking about the importance of equality.
The advertisement is funded by a coalition of nonprofit groups that support gay marriage but which are not directly involved in the campaign to defend the state’s gay marriage law against a people’s veto question likely to appear on November’s ballot.
Betsy Smith, executive director of the EqualityMaine Foundation, said the 60-second television spot that will air statewide is the continuation of a three-year educational effort.
“We are not the campaign,” she said during a telephone news conference. “We are ongoing, permanent educational organizations that have been talking with Mainers about marriage equality for three years.”
The ad talks about “Maine values,” described by the groups as “fairness,” “respect” and “strong and healthy families.” It is paid for by the EqualityMaine Foundation, Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation and Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.
The groups declined to say how much they spent on the advertisement. They said they will continue spending money to further their educational efforts.
In May, Gov. John Baldacci signed into a law a bill that allows gay and lesbian couples to marry. Immediately, groups launched a people’s veto effort to gather the signatures necessary to put the issue before voters in November.
The Secretary of State’s Office is in the process of verifying the signatures to determine whether Mainers will be asked if they would like to overturn the new law.
Scott Fish, spokesman for Stand For Marriage Maine, said the ad doesn’t explain to Mainers the major changes that would take place to Maine law if marriage is redefined to include gay and lesbian couples.
“They can say it’s not a campaign ad, but it’s pretty obvious it’s a campaign ad,” he said.
Fish said Stand for Marriage will soon launch a new Web site and will use radio, television and newspapers to get out their message.
He said the campaign will begin in earnest once the signatures are officially certified — likely after Labor Day.
“Traditionally, in Maine, the rule of thumb is don’t even attempt to do anything in the summer because people aren’t paying attention,” he said. “It’s early for a noncampaign campaign ad.”
Shenna Bellows of the Maine Civil Liberties Union said the advertising effort is just beginning for thos against repealing the law. “We intend to invest as many resources as possible to bring this message to reach hundreds of thousands of Mainers,” she said.
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