AUGUSTA — Proponents of a citizens’ initiative to make same-sex marriage legal in Maine said Wednesday that the language for the legislation they propose has been approved by the secretary of state.

This week’s approval allows supporters of gay marriage to begin printing petitions and gathering signatures to reach their goal of putting the issue before Mainers on the November 2012 ballot.

They need at least 57,277 signatures from registered Maine voters, and will have until January to turn in their petitions to Secretary of State Charlie Summers.

“We’re excited for the signature-gathering phase of this campaign to start,” said Rita Clifford of Scarborough in a news release. The door-to-door effort will begin this weekend, according to the release.
Passage of the initiative would allow gay and lesbian couples to get marriage licenses in Maine, but would not require churches to perform any marriage that conflicts with its teachings.

The bill would first go to the Legislature, which would have an option to pass it. Rejection by the Legislature would put the measure on the statewide ballot.

Maine lawmakers passed a gay marriage law in May of 2009, but it was repealed by voters in a citizens initiative in November of that year, 53 percent to 47 percent.

Also Wednesday, proponents of same-sex marriage announced the creation of their new political action committee, Dirigo Family PAC, which will raise and distribute money for their campaign.

Opponents of the measure that led to the people’s veto have pledged to campaign against the latest attempt to legalize gay marriage in Maine.