Maine Churches Passing Plate for Gay-Marriage Fight

Up to 200 churches in Maine plan to pass a collection plate on Father's Day to raise funds to fight gay marriage. The state is holding a referendum on legalizing same-sex marriage in November, and the Protect Marriage Maine political action committee is stepping up efforts to raise funds and get support from evangelical leaders around the country, reports AP.

Supporters of gay marriage say they have plenty of churches on their side, as well as other donors. Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes donated $100,000 to Mainers United for Marriage earlier this month. Maine passed a law legalizing gay marriage in the spring of 2009, but the measure was rejected 53% to 47% by the state's voters that November. It's now the only New England state that doesn't allow either gay marriage or civil unions. (More Maine stories.)