Associated Press

- Thursday, August 13, 2009

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) - A group fighting to keep Maine's gay marriage law on the books has opened its third campaign headquarters in as many weeks.

NO on 1/Protect Maine Equality held an open house Wednesday for its newest office in Lewiston. The other offices are in Portland and Brewer.

Maine's law was scheduled to take effect next month, but it has been sidetracked as state election officials verify petitions submitted to force a statewide referendum in November.

The law will be stayed pending the vote if state election officials certify the signatures of at least 55,087 registered voters. That's all but certain since gay marriage opponents say they collected more than 100,000 signatures.