AUGUSTA, Maine -- Gov. John Baldacci on Thursday signed into law a bill to make Maine the last of the New England states to legally protect gays and lesbians from discrimination, but within hours an evangelical group launched a campaign to erase the measure from the books.
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"This act not only offers essential civil rights, but serves as a welcome," the Democratic governor, who submitted the gay rights legislation, told cheering supporters who packed the State House Cabinet Room. "Our doors are open to all people. This is a proud day for Maine."
The law, which received final House and Senate passage Wednesday night, takes effect in late June, 90 days after Wednesday's adjournment of this year's regular legislative session.
The measure amends the Maine Human Rights Act by making discrimination in employment, housing, credit, public accommodations and education based on sexual orientation or gender identity illegal. Maine law now prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, disability, religion, ancestry and national origin.
The new law will exempt religious organizations that do not receive public funds. It also makes clear that the law does not condone or authorize gay marriages.
Baldacci said figures from the state attorney general showing that the number of hate crimes against gays and lesbians increased by 12 percent in 2003 underscore the importance of the legislation.
But opponents, asserting that the bill was rushed through the legislative process and enacted without voters' approval, vowed to once again undo a law they see as a legal gateway to gay marriages.
"We are here to affirm our support for marriage," Rev. Sandy Williams of the First Baptist Church of Freeport told a crowd activists, who had set up tables to sign up petition circulators.
Williams, one of several dozen pastors attending the event, said the "ill-conceived and ambiguously worded" legislation will lead to "a radical redefinition of the family."
The Christian Civic League of Maine, which represents evangelical churches in the State House, led successful referendum campaigns in 1998 and 2000 that defeated earlier gay rights laws. The latest effort is two-pronged, said Executive Director Michael Heath.
To initiate a "people's veto" referendum next November on the latest gay rights law, opponents must submit at least 50,519 voters' signatures to state election officials by June 28, the Secretary of State's office said.
Anticipating many signatures collected by petitioners will be challenged, Heath set a goal of collecting 70,000 signatures, as well as $2 million to wage a referendum campaign. "The clock is ticking," Heath told activists.
Petitioners will also collect signatures in hopes of forcing a November 2006 vote on an initiated bill that will deal with marriage. Heath said the wording of that proposal is not yet finalized.
Gay activists were not surprised by Thursday's announcement and "we have to assume he will get his signatures," Betsy Smith, executive director of Equality Maine, said after the final legislative votes Wednesday night on the gay rights bill. But Smith said her side was prepared to defend the law should a referendum be initiated.
Gay activists stood quietly in the background holding signs with messages such as "No Discrimination" while the religious activists held their news conference.
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On the Net:
Maine Constitution, people's veto provisions: http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/const.htm
Coalition for Marriage: http://www.coalitionformarriage.net/
Equality Maine: http://www.equalitymaine.org/
The new law takes effect June 30 in the state of Maine (highlighted).
With the stroke of a pen, Gov. John Baldacci of Maine signed into law a gay rights bill that extended legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The new law does not legalize same-sex marriage.

Known officially as "LD 1196," the bill's wording adds the term ''sexual orientation'' to the list of protected classes in the Maine Human Rights Act banning discrimination in employment, housing, education, credit, and public accommodations. The bill was passed by the Maine House of Representatives by a vote of 91-58 Wednesday. The State Senate approved the bill the same day by a vote of 25-10.

Already protected classes under the state's human rights act are gender, age, religion, race, and physical and mental disability. Additional language was added to LD 1196 before it passed clarifying that it would not extend marriage rights to same-sex couples and exempts privately-funded religious groups from having to comply with its provisions. The new law takes effect June 30.

Government official said the new law is needed to send a message. The office of the Maine Attorney General says that the number of hate crimes against gays and lesbians increased by 12 percent in 2003. Baldacci said those figures underscore why the new law is needed.

"This act not only offers essential civil rights, but serves as a welcome," Baldacci said in a press conference after signing the new law. "Our doors are open to all people. This is a proud day for Maine."

But at least one group is organizing to stop the new gay rights law in its tracks. According to reports, the Christian Civic League of Maine has filed initial paperwork to put a voter initiative on the November 2005 general election ballot to overturn the new law.

The group must get at least 50,519 valid signatures from registered voters of the state by a June 28 deadline. Michael Heath, executive director of the group, told the Associated Press that the League has a goal of 70 thousand valid signatures and hopes to raise $2 million to fund a campaign, called a "people's Veto," to repeal the new law.