FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Mary Beth Hutchins, x105 or Elizabeth Ray, x130 at 703-683-5004
JULY 31, 2009 

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE APPLAUDS MAINE VICTORY

Princeton, NJ - A coalition of Maine groups working to defend marriage called StandforMarriage Maine (www.standformarriagemaine.com) announced today they will present over 100,000 signatures, close to twice the number of signatures necessary to put the marriage question before voters this November. One member of this coalition is the National Organization for Marriage, a group that has been involved in the marriage debate in states around the country. 

"We congratulate Marc Mutty and the StandforMarriage Maine coalition on this success. To collect so many signatures in just a few short weeks is more evidence of what we find in New Hampshire, Iowa and other states:  people are fired up to use the ‘people's veto’ to take back marriage!" said Brian Brown, executive director of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). 

NOM has emerged as a major contributor to Maine effort, giving $160,000 to the StandforMarriage Maine Coalition. NOM was also the largest single donor to the Prop 8 effort in California.

"Maine has national implications in the marriage debate," notes Brown. "A win in November in Maine will be a huge boost for our movement, coming atop the big victories in California, Florida, and Arizona last November."

"Gay marriage advocates have tried to craft a story line that the ‘culture has shifted’ on gay marriage.  A victory in Maine will prove they are wrong," notes NOM president Maggie Gallagher, "It will also make it clear to the Supreme Court that the majority of Americans care about fighting for our marriage tradition."

To schedule an interview with Brian Brown, Executive Director, for the National Organization for Marriage, please contact Elizabeth Ray, eray@crcpublicrelations.com, (x130) or Mary Beth Hutchins, mhutchins@crcpublicrelations.com, (x105) at 703-683-5004.

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